Shunt
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67. James Hunt leads Niki Lauda at Zandvoort on Sunday 22nd June, 1975. The team foresaw the changing weather conditions.
68. The Hesketh team mascot, Super Bear at Zandvoort.
69. Pure joy as he celebrates his first Grand Prix victory of his career at the Dutch Grand Prix, with second place Niki Lauda and third place Clay Regazonni.
Another podium finish at the French Grand Prix
70. Sitting in the cockpit of the Hesketh-Ford 308 at the Paul Ricard circuit on Sunday 6th July. In order for the team to compete in the French Grand Prix, Bubbles Horsley had sold Lord Hesketh’s Rolls Royce to raise funds.
71. Lord Hesketh and James Hunt unveil the new Hesketh 308C during the British Grand Prix weekend in July 1975 at Easton Neston.
72. Fans of James Hunt show their support at his home Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday 19th July, 1975. He dominated the race from pole position but retired on lap 25 when his engine blew up after he had set the fastest lap of the race.
A morale boost for the team at Silverstone
73. With Team Manager Bubbles Horsley at the British Grand Prix. Despite the retirement, spirits were high in the Hesketh team after his dominant performance
The German Grand Prix at Nurburgring 3rd August 1975
74. James Hunt’s Hesketh 308 flies over a hump at Nurburgring. He retired on lap 10 after a wheel came off the car.
75. American driver Mark Donohue was involved in an accident in qualifying which killed both himself and a marshall, after his car plunged into catch fencing.
Mixed emotions at the Austrian Grand Prix, 1975
76. Second place James Hunt; race winner Vittorio Brambilla and third place Tom Pryce on the podium after a rain-shortened race at Osterreichring on Sunday 17th August.
77. James Hunt talks with Tony Brise and Ronnie Peterson at the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday 7th September.
78. The race saw the unveiling of the Hesekth 308, which in hindsight was a luxury the team could have done without. James Hunt finished fifth. Niki Lauda finished third, which was enough to secure the Austrian the 1975 world championship
79. James Hunt with three fans at the United States Grand Prix, Watkins Glen on Sunday 5th October where he finished fifth.
James Hunt is unveiled as McLaren’s new driver at the end of 1975
80. James Hunt sits in the McLaren-Ford M23 with Teddy Mayer, team principal (left) and Alistair Caldwell, McLaren team manager (right) after being announced as their new driver for the 1976 season.
81. His first Grand Prix drive in the new six speed gearbox McLaren-Ford at Interlagos, Brazil.
Hunt wins first pole position at the Brazilian Grand Prix
82. Teddy Mayer speaks to new recruit James Hunt at the Interlagos circuit on Sunday, 25th January 1976. Mayer was astonished when Hunt secured his first pole position for McLaren with one flying lap. He spun out of the race on lap 33 with throttle problems.
Podium finish at the 1976 South African Grand Prix
83. James Hunt with Niki Lauda at Kyalami on Sunday 6th March 1976. Hunt finished second behind Lauda in his second race for McLaren. Any doubts the McLaren team had about their new driver completely disappeared.
An unfavourable impression is left at the United States Grand Prix
84. At the United States West Grand Prix on Sunday 28th March 1976. After being knocked out on lap 4 due to a collision with Patrick Depailler, Hunt stood at the side of the track shaking his fist and hurling abuse at the French driver.
85. James Hunt, Alan Jones and Harald Ertl take an interest in an adult cinema at the Long Beach circuit, USA.
A marked change in performance and demeanor at Silverstone
86. James Hunt on the podium with Bette Hill, the widow of racing driver Graham Hill, after winning the Graham Hill Trophy on Sunday 11th April 1976.
Stripped of a victory at the Spanish Grand Prix
87. Crossing the chequered flag on his first victory for McLaren. But post-race scrutineering deemed the car too wide by the new race regulations and was therefore illegal, disqualifying Hunt from the race.
88. James Hunt with his great friend Jody Scheckter at the Spanish Grand Prix at Jarama on Sunday 2nd May 1976.
89. On the podium at Jarama with the King of Spain and Gunnar Nilsson before finding out the news of his disqualification from journalists. Hunt’s victory was subsequently reinstated later in the season after an appeal.
The McLaren-Ford M26 is unveiled in July 1976
90. James Hunt sits in the new McLaren M26 as it is unveiled to the press. Beside him is team mate Jochen Mass (back left); McLaren team designer Gordon Coppuck (front left); McLaren Team Owner Teddy Mayer (back left) and Patty McLaren, widow of the team founder Bruce McLaren. The car would not race.
1976 Monaco Grand Prix
91. McLaren technical director Gordon Coppuck discusses set-up with Jochen Mass, James Hunt and Teddy Mayer at Monaco. The M23 was now uncompetitive after the team had concentrated so hard on ensuring the car was legal after their disqualification in Spain.
92. James Hunt takes a spin at Tabac corner in the Monaco Grand Prix. He retired on lap 25 with a blown engine.
The British Grand Prix, Brands Hatch, Sunday 18th July
93. Crossing the line he waves to the crowd after taking the chequered flag at Brands Hatch after the restarted race on Sunday 18th July 1976. His victory could not have been more popular with the 80,000 fans present.
The manoeuvre that caused all the trouble
94. A sequence of photos shot by David Phipps shows the collision between James Hunt and Clay Regazzoni which resulted in the race being stopped and restarted.
95. Hunt chases Lauda down after the restart of the British Grand Prix. It took him 45 laps to catch his rival and overtake him.
96. To the sheer delight of the partisan crowd on the 45th lap at Brands Hatch Hunt finally drove inside Niki Lauda and passed him on the climbing approach to Druids Hill to take the lead of the 1976 British Grand Prix. He was never headed after that.
97. Andrew Frankl then a young journalist and photographer organised the demonstrations that led to James Hunt being reinstated in the race. As a youngster he had been involved in the Hungarian uprisings in 1956.
98. Ferrari’s Team Manager Daniele Audetto complains to the media about the controversial restart of the race and announces that he will appeal the result even though Ferrari had caused the startline accident.
99. Enjoying his British victory swigging from a bottle of Moet et Chandon champagne with another full bottle in reserve which wouldn’t last long.
100. Celebrating his victory on the podium with Patrick Depailler (left) and John Watson (right) at the French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard, 4th July 1976.
101. Enjoying a cigarette on the pit wall during qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix at Mount Fuji on 24th October 1976. Hunt smoked 40 cigarettes a day until the latter days of his life. In that time, many athletes smoked and it wasn’t regarded as a problem.
The German Grand Prix at Nurburgring on Sunday 1st August, 1976.
102. Niki Lauda looks pensive before the German Grand Prix before the race which would place his career and life in jeopardy. And on the pit wall with Jody Scheckter and James Hunt.
Victory at the Dutch Grand Prix closes the gap between Hunt and Lauda
103. James Hunt celebrating on the podium after a first place finish at Zandvoort. The result brought him within two points of Niki Lauda in the world championship standings.
104. Celebrating another victory at the Canadian Grand Prix, Mosport on Sunday 3rd October 1976.
The United States Grand Prix, 10th October 1976
105. On the podium at the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen for the seventh time that season. It put the world championship in his grasp.
106. The McLaren team celebrates another win for James Hunt at Watkins Glen, which brought him within three points of championship leader Niki Lauda.
Showdown at the Japanese Grand Prix, 24th
October 1976
107. James Hunt poses for David Phipps during qualifying at Mount Fuji with the mountain itself in the background.
108. With Niki Lauda and the world motorcycle champion of that year, Barry Sheene on the pitwall of the Mount Fuji circuit.
109. A comical message from Alastair Caldwell for his driver about the need to wear in new brake pads.
110. Hunt ahead of team mate Jochen Mass at the start of a very wet and dangerous race at Mount Fuji.
111. Teddy Mayer holds three fingers up to James Hunt, signalling that he finished in third place. At this point, Hunt believed he had finished fourth due an incorrect pit board and was angry about what had happened with his pit stop for fresh tyres.
112. Teddy Mayer and Alastair Caldwell hold out a pit board telling their driver to call into the pits for a fresh set of tyres.
113. The McLaren team prepare a pit board asking Hunt whether it is time to switch to dry tyres due to the changing weather conditions at Mount Fuji. Nygaard
114. Japanese Airlines Flight No 421 from Tokyo to London via Anchorage. On the second leg of the flight Hunt finally fell asleep exhausted from celebrating. Clockwise from left Chris Jones, John Hogan, Alastair Caldwell and James Hunt.
115. Sue Hunt is reunited with her son at London’s Heathrow airport on 26th October 1976 upon his return from Tokyo after winning the 1976 Formula One world championship
116. Hundreds of fans made their way to Brands Hatch for the tribute meeting celebrating the new world champion. Hunt’s popularity in Great Britain was undeniable.
117. James Hunt, with Barry Sheene, is mobbed by fans and the media whilst being paraded at Brands Hatch after becoming the new world champion
118. The new world champion is interviewed by journalists at London’s Heathrow airport on 26th October 1976.
The 1977 Argentine Grand Prix at Buenos Aires
119. With Teddy Mayer and Ray Grant prior to the start at Buenos Aires. He retired on from the race on lap 32 and ploughed into catch fencing after his rear suspension broke.
120. In the McLaren pit at Interlagos posing with a female fan Sunday 9th January 1977.
The 1977 United States West Grand Prix at Long Beach, California
121. Hunt’s McLaren M23 is launched into the air after hitting the rear wheel of John Watson’s Brabham-Alfa Romero. The race marked the end of his period of dominance in Formula One.
122. James Hunt with George Harrison at Long Beach on Sunday 3rd April
123. James Hunt was a backgammon fanatic and carried a board with him for impromptu games with Bernie Ecclestone and Teddy Mayer.
124. Jane Birbeck consoles her boyfriend after the finish of the United States West Grand Prix.
The McLaren-Ford M26 debuts at the 1977 Spanish Grand Prix at Jarama
125. McLaren mechanic Gary Anderson pushes Hunt’s McLaren M26 back into the pits after his retirement at the Spanish Grand Prix, Sunday 8th May.
126. Racing in the McLaren M26 for the first time at Jarama. Hunt made no impact in the race and retired on lap 10 with a broken engine. He was further frustrated by the fact that team mate Jochen Mass finished fourth in the M23.
The 1977 Monaco Grand Prix
127. On board a private yacht with world motorcycle champion, Barry Sheene on John F. Kennedy Plaza at the Monte Carlo harbour on Sunday 22nd May.
128. Hunt sticks two fingers up to the photographer David Phipps at the Monaco Grand Prix. He loathed the street circuit and was led astray by the hedonistic pleasures the principality had to offer the night before the race.
129. With Niki Lauda at the Belgian Grand Prix. Hunt only managed seventh in the McLaren M26 and Lauda was favourite for the title again.
The French Grand Prix at Dijon-Prenois, Sunday 3rd July 1977
130. James Hunt loved the Paul Ricard track and brought his Mclaren-Ford M26 home in third place, his best showing of the season so far.
131. In mid 1977 James Hunts biography of the 1976 season was finally published. It sold 177,000 copies.
The British Grand Prix at Silverstone, 1977
132. 100,000 ecstatic British Fans cheered Hunt on at the British Grand Prix as he crosses the line in first place in his McLaren-Ford M26 much to their delight. Sunday 16th July 1977.
133. Journalists felt that wining the world championship had gone to Hunt’s head. A unnamed journalist had some stickers made ‘James Hunt is a steaming turd’ that appeared everywhere in the paddock, Hunt himself seemed not to care.
134. With Stirling Moss after a disappointing Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort on Sunday 28th August. Hunt crashed out of the race after a challenge for the lead from Mario Andretti.
The United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, Sunday 2nd October 1977
135. Hunt drives home his second victory of the season at the United States Grand Prix.
136. Celebrating his Watkins Glen victory in this famous photo by David Phipps after the race finished. He celebrates with a Penthouse magazine promotions girl with cigarette and a beer in hand.
137. Race winner James Hunt plays backgammon in the Marlboro hospitality trailer with his friend Chris Jones. He got the backgammon board out as often as he could.
138. James Hunt finished 1977 with a flourish as he drove to victory in the last race of the season in Japan, with the iconic Mount Fuji in the background. The weather was rather better than the year before.
The last season with McLaren in 1978
139. James Hunt finished fourth, in the Argentinian Grand Prix on the 15th January. Only three seconds behind second placed Niki Lauda’s Brabham-Alfa Romeo. It was more competitive start to the season than Hunt expected.
140. Proof that he could wear a suit and tie when necessary came at this early season Marlboro sponsored event.
141. Competing in a cycling race with Niki Lauda round the Jacarepagua circuit at the Brazilian Grand Prix on 27th January 1978.
142. At the start of the South African Grand Prix, 4th March he retired from the race after he ‘simply lost interest and spun off.’
143. With Ronnie Peterson, Mario Andretti and Patrick Depallier on the pit wall at the Argentine Grand Prix, on 15th January 1978.
144. James Hunt stands by his retired car, at the United States West Grand Prix at Long Beach, Sunday 2nd April after he struck the wall before the pit straight on the sixth lap and knocked his right front wheel askew. He was distraught, and blamed himself for making a “stupid mistake”.
145. Teddy Mayer with James Hunt and his team mate Patrick Tambay at the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday 7th May, 1977.
146. Playing backgammon with Patrick McNally who looked after him at races for Marlboro in 1777 and 1978.
147. In an effort to find downforce McLaren experimented with an unusual front wing configuration on the McLaren M26 during practice for the Spanish Grand Prix. Hunt went on to finish sixth in the race. It made Marlboro’s John Hogan happy but the car was no faster.
148. With Brabham team owner Bernie Ecclestone on the weekend of the Swedish Grand Prix which saw the debut of the Brabham-Alfa Romeo fan car. Hunt and Ecclestone always had a special relationship.
149. Although he would have preferred to have Giles Villeneuve as his team mate James Hunt eventually warmed to his new team mate for 1978, a Frenchman called Patrick Tambay. They are photographed at Paul Ricard together.
French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard, Sunday 2nd July
150. Racing in the French Grand Prix in what would be his best performance of the year. Hunt managed to finish third but was sick in his helmet for the third time in a race after over indulging with pate foie gras in local restaurants.
151. At the British Grand Prix before spinning off on lap 8. The race was a disaster as Hunt’s car spun right around at high speed without warning, causing him to crash into the Armco barrier. Hunt blamed both himself and the tyres.