James Hunt

James Simon Wallis Hunt (29 August 1947 in Belmont nr Sutton, Surrey, England, United Kingdom – 15 June 1993 in Wimbledon, London, England, United Kingdom) was a British racing driver who competed in Formula One, becoming World Champion in 1976, beating Niki Lauda.

Hunt earned the nickname "Hunt the Shunt" for his on-track exploits. This persona did not stay on track; Hunt was a playboy, sleeping with over 5000 women, and often consumed alcohol and drugs.

Hunt started in touring car racing, and eventually progressed into Formula 3. In 1973, he joined up with Lord Hesketh, and drove for the Hesketh team until he signed to drive for McLaren in 1976, his strong performances for Hesketh, including one win, marking him out as an ideal signing after Emerson Fittipaldi's late exit from the team. Hunt went on to won the championship, but by a very small margin after old roommate Niki Lauda's horrendous accident. Hunt never actually lead the championship until the final race. He was the only person to do this until Sebastian Vettel in 2010. For 1979, Hunt joined the Wolf team, but the car was uncompetitive and Hunt retired mid-season.

After retirement, he was signed up by the BBC to act as co-commentator to Murray Walker, whom Hunt was nearly an opposite to. Hunt continued in this role until his death in 1993 from a heart attack at the age of 45.

Formula One CareerEdit

Before Formula OneEdit

1973Edit

Racing for Lord Hesketh in Formula Two, the team was failing. Hunt wished to join his rival Niki Lauda in Formula One, but Lord Hesketh was low on funds. Nevertheless, Hesketh announced the creation of the Hesketh team for the 1973 season. The team would not become a registered constructor until the 1974 season and would only enter a single driver. The team was criticized for joining Formula One for the glamor rather than the racing. This criticism would not stop the team from being more competitive than the March works team, from which they purchased their chassis.

Both Hunt and the Hesketh team made their Formula One debut in the 1973 Monaco Grand Prix, just before the half way point in the season. Starting 18th on the grid, Hunt would later retire from the race because of an engine issue. Taking a one race break and skipping the 1973 Swedish Grand Prix, Hunt would earn his first career point in France after beating Arturo Merzario of Ferrari for a sixth place finish. In his home Grand Prix, he would again prove his competitiveness by setting the fastest lap and finishing just missing the podium by 0.4 seconds. This fourth place finish would earn him another three points, but these would not be has last of the season.

At the following race in the Netherlands, Hunt would finish on the bottom step of the podium. Although this was a happy day for Hunt, it would be a somber celebration after the drivers are told about the Roger Williamson who had died in a flaming crash on the seventh lap. Hunt would get to experience the podium once more in the season. At the United States Grand Prix, Hunt would finish just over 0.6 seconds behind Ronnie Peterson and earn the second step on the podium. Again the celebrations would be sad, as the drivers mourn the loss of François Cevert in a qualifying accident.

This was for sure a sad end to the season. Hunt had earned fourteen points throughout the season, despite only entering in half of the races on the season's calendar. This spectacular performance earned him eighth place in the World Drivers' Championship and the Campbell Trophy from the Royal Automobile Club. This trophy was awarded to the best British racing driver.

1974Edit

1975Edit

1976Edit

1977Edit

1978Edit

1979Edit

BroadcastingEdit

Quotes Edit

"Hunt who is leading this group is looking for a good season, at the end of last year, he won two of the last three races and wound up the season with three wins. As many as Lauda." - Harry Carpenter. BBC. 1978 Argentine Grand Prix.

"He's been the quickest driver in the pre-season testing and Andretti has tipped him as the man to beat. In this race, Hunt's 70th grand prix, his tyres are giving him a few problems. " - Harry Carpenter. BBC. 1978 Argentine Grand Prix.

Personal Edit

" I just got it wrong. Sometimes you get it right, some times you get it wrong." - Talking to David Coleman. 1978 Argentine Grand Prix.

"Well I was just thinking rather, that it is rather how fate works. It's the first Argentinian Grand Prix I haven't led. And its the first Argentinian Grand Prix where everyone hasn't dropped out. Its traditionally won by the tortoise rather than the hare. It's the first time we have had a hare win it." - Talking to David Coleman. 1978 Argentine Grand Prix.

"I'm very happy, its the first time for three years that I have scored points in the first race. So I'm not complaining." - Talking to David Coleman. 1978 Argentine Grand Prix.

Helmet DesignEdit

Formula One Statistical OverviewEdit

Formula One RecordEdit

Career StatisticsEdit

Race WinsEdit

Career ResultsEdit

Complete Formula One results
Year	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	Pts	Pos
1973																		14	8th
						9th		6th	4th	3rd		Ret	DNS	7th	2nd
1974																		15	8th
	Ret	9th	Ret	10th	Ret	Ret	3rd	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	3rd	Ret	4th	3rd
1975																		33	4th
	2nd	6th	Ret	Ret [1]	Ret	Ret	Ret	1st	2nd	4th	Ret	2nd [2]	5th	4th
1976																		69	1st
	Ret	2nd	Ret	1st	Ret	Ret	5th	1st	DSQ	1st	4th	1st	Ret	1st	1st	3rd
1977																		40	5th
	Ret	2nd	4th	7th	Ret	Ret	7th	12th	3rd	1st	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	1st	Ret	1st
1978																		8	13th
	4th	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	6th	8th	3rd	Ret	DSQ	Ret	10th	Ret	7th	Ret
1979																		0	NC
	Ret	Ret	8th	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	C

Non-Racing Formula One CareerEdit

NotesEdit

1. ↑ Race stopped after 29/75 Laps. Half points awarded
2. ↑ Race stopped after 29/54 Laps. Half points awarded

External linksEdit

• Wikipedia article
• Manipe F1 article

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