James Hunt

After a rocky start to his career, which earned him the reputation as ‘The Shunt’, James Hunt was almost unemployable as a racing driver.

Then in 1973 he teamed up with the independent Hesketh racing, a team perfectly suited to his combined passions for fast cars and partying.

combined passions for fast cars and partying
That Petrol Emotion

After several wins with Hesketh, Hunt signed up with the McLaren team for the memorable 1976 season. Hunt’s rival Niki Lauda was injured in a horrific crash in Germany, but fought his way back to fitness to challenge the English driver. The championship was eventually decided in Japan, under the most appalling weather conditions. Lauda pulled out of the race, but Hunt held on and battled through the rain to finish in third place. It was enough to make him World Champion.

It was Hunt’s only championship, and the remainder of his racing career proved to be frustrating; an unreliable car meant he won only a handful more races. He retired from the sport half way through the 1979 season, refusing to risk his life in races he could not possibly win.

He found a second career as a pundit, striking up a memorable partnership with Murray Walker in the BBC commentary booth. He died from a heart attack in 1993, aged only 45.