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152. Stripped down to his underpants at the 1978 German Grand Prix at Hockenheim on 30th July 1978.
153. With Teddy Mayer and Alistair Caldwell at the British Grand Prix posing for David Phipps’s camera.
Tragedy at the Italian Grand Prix, Sunday 10th September 1978
154. In the pits before the start of what would be a tragic Italian Grand Prix at Monza
155. The immediate aftermath of the seven car accident which would eventually lead to the death of Ronnie Peterson. Hunt immediately climbed on top of the wrecked Lotus and tried to pull Peterson out.
156. James Hunt, Professor Sid Watkins, Bernie Ecclestone and Colin Chapman run back to the scene of the start line accident which would claim the life of Ronnie Peterson.
157. Ronnie Peterson lies in the centre of the track after being pulled from his burning Lotus 78. The amount of time taken for doctors to attend to Peterson was inexplicable as Italian Police were being overzealous, stopping anybody from the reaching the driver.
158. The funeral of Ronnie Peterson on Friday 15th September 1978. Back row: Tommy Peterson, Barbro Peterson and Erik Edvardson, Clockwise from left around Peterson’s coffin: Ake Strandberg, Emerson Fittipaldi, James Hunt. Gunnar Nilsson, John Watson Niki Lauda and Jody Scheckter.
159. The McLaren team poses for pictures at the United States Grand Prix. For the final two races of the season the team were sponsored by Lowenbrau beer, another subsidiary of Philip Morris.
The Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Île Notre-Dame, Sunday 8th October
160. James Hunt is strapped into the McLaren M26 by mechanic Ray Grant for his final race driving with McLaren at the Canadian Grand Prix. He had repaired his relationships with Teddy Mayer and the mechanics, who pinned a note on his steering wheel that read “This is the last one, good buddy – it’s been a great three years.” The McLarens ran in Lowenbrau livery for the final two races.
161. With Patrick Tambay and Formula One doctor Professor Sid Watkins at the United States Grand Prix. Hunt finished seventh.
162. Driving in the Canadian Grand Prix. He drove his worst ever qualifying performance to be 19th on the grid and then retired from the race on lap 51. He finished 13th in the World Championship standings with only eight points. Hunt called it ‘a disastrous season.’
1979: A short spell with Walter Wolf Racing followed by sudden retirement
163. James Hunt in his Wolf Racing overalls at the United States Grand Prix at Long Beach on Sunday 8th April.
164. In the Wolf-Ford WR7, which Hunt privately called an “ill-handling pig” at the South African Grand Prix, Kyalami on Sunday 3rd March. It was to be the only race of the season that Hunt finished, driving home in eighth place.
165. Driving for Walter Wolf Racing in the Argentine Grand Prix at Buenos Aires on Sunday 21st January, before retiring on lap 41. The race was a serious wake up call as Hunt discovered he had lost some of his zest for Formula One.
166. At the United States West Grand Prix on Sunday 8th April 1979 at Long Beach. Hunt did not even complete the first lap after his gear box broke on the start line.
167. James Hunt racing in his last ever Formula One race at the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday 27th May 1979. He announced his retirement two weeks later.
168. Contemplating stepping into a Formula One car for the very last time in the Monaco pits on race morning on 27th May 1979. Few people knew of his plans.
Marriage to Suzy Miller and Richard Burton to the rescue
169. The official engagement photograph: The couple met whilst they were both living in Marbella. Unlike Hunt’s previous girlfriends, Suzy Miller was undemanding, quiet and had a thoughtful manner.
170. James Hunt and best man Lord Hesketh on the day of the wedding. Hunt had been having serious doubts about the marriage ever since the engagement party, and decided the solution was to get himself terribly inebriated.
171. Hunt with Graham Hill at his stag night which was held at Trader Vic’s under the London Hilton in Park Lane, London on 17th October 1974. It was the night before his marriage to Suzy Miller.
172. James Hunt and Suzy Miller on their wedding day on 19th October 1974 outside the Brompton Oratory catholic church in Kensington., London.
173. The bridal Rolls-Royce, complete with a helmeted Hesketh bear.
174. Graham Hill and Stirling Moss at the wedding of James Hunt and Suzy Miller. More or less every racing driver of distinction was invited including Jackie Stewart, John Watson and Ronnie Peterson.
175. With Richard Burton and Suzy Miller. As far as the outside world was concerned both the Hunts’ and Burtons’ marriages were fine but Suzy had kept Hunt fully informed of the developing affair on the telephone and to say that he was delighted would have been an understatement.
176. The couple relax at the Monaco Grand Prix on 26th May 1974.
177. James Hunt and the new Mrs Richard Burton photographed in Marbella, Spain on 1st October 1976 when Richard Burton came to visit his new wife’s ex-husband.
178. Surrounded by young fans at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London in 1977where he visited to help with a fund-raising appeal. He pioneered Formula One’s long standing association with the hospital.
179. Hunt strikes a pose and rides Lord Hesketh’s Suzuki superbike around Monte Carlo at the Monaco Grand Prix in 1973.
180. With Noel Edmonds prior to the start of the start of the Avon Tour of Britain in 1974.
181. Five well dressed grid girls hold up a delighted James Hunt at the British Grand Prix on 18th July 1976.
182. Jane Birbeck and James Hunt were first introduced by Mark McCormack, the chairman of IMG, the world’s biggest sports sponsorship and management agency whom Birbeck was going out with at the time. They had a great time together at Monte Carlo in 1977.
183. Hunt and Jane Birbeck in the pits at the Monaco Grand Prix on 22nd May 1977.
184. James Hunt and Jane Birbeck pose for a Daily Mirror photographer in Marbella shortly after he retired. in May 1979.
185. With Barry Sheene and his future wife Stephanie McLean after the 1976 British Grand Prix on 18th July 1976. McLean and Birbeck found common ground in their womanising partners and became firm friends.
186. At London’s Heathrow airport with Jane Birbeck after flying in from Montreal after the 1977 Canadian Grand Prix.
187. Hunt and Jane Birbeck share a moment of domestic bliss at home at their London mews house.
188. Hunt and Jane Birbeck pose at a press conference to promote the opening of Birbeck’s new gym on King’s Road, London in 1982. Hunt was very generous to his ex-partner after the split and agreed to become an investor in the gym.
189. At home in Marbella.
190. James Hunt with girlfriend Jane Birbeck pose for the cameras for a PR shot at the Monaco Grand Prix in 1977. Their relationship lasted for five years.
191. James Hunt and Sarah Lomax at the Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril on Sunday 21st October. The pair met whilst Lomax was holidaying with girlfriends in Marbella.
192. James Hunt and Sarah Lomax on their wedding day in Marlborough, Wiltshire on Saturday 17th December 1983. Some of his friends declined to attend as they were loyal to Jane Birbeck and felt the marriage was not appropriate.
193. James and Sarah Hunt at the launch of an anti-drug campaign supported by celebrities on 3rd September 1986. Ironically, they both enjoyed to drink, smoke and indulge in recreational drugs in a way that perfectly matched eighties hedonism. But they were both firmly against hard drugs.
194. James Hunt was a favourite with Daily Mirror readers and in 1974 he posed for a series of glamour shots with model Susan Shaw.
195. James Hunt was romantically involved with budding actress and supermodel Valentine Monnier for several years during the 70’s. She appeared on the cover Cosmopolitan in September 1977 at the height of their romance.
196. Hunt with Pam Rowe at the Monaco Grand Prix.
197. With his last girlfriend, artist Helen Dyson. The pair met when
Dyson was working as a waitress in a hamburger restaurant.
198. Hunt and Helen Dyson with his trusty Austin A35 van, which is bought for £900 and used to transport his budgerigars to shows around the country.
199. James Hunt hosted a table for his friends at the annual BRDC dinner in December 1977. From left to right clockwise from bottom left: John Richardson, David Zelkowitz, Margaret Birrell, Patrick McNally, Jane Birbeck, James Hunt, Anne Hogan, John Hogan, Mr and Mrs Peter Hunt and Mary Richardson.
200. On the tennis court in South Africa. He was a very keen tennis player and had played racquet sports constantly from the age of six.
201. Enjoying a round of golf in Marbella Hunt was a born competitor and excelled in a wide range of sports from an early age.
202. On crutches and his leg in cast following a ski accident at the annual Marlboro ski weekend. He appeared at the United States West Grand Prix West at Long Beach, California on 30th March 1980. It was less than three weeks after the accident which had detached his knee ligaments and he had travelled the Atlantic in a full length leg cast.
203. With his beloved German Shepherd Oscar at home in Marbella, Spain. Oscar was a remarkable dog and was Hunt’s constant companion for over 14 years. Oscar was the only dog allowed into BBC Television Centre.
204. James Hunt with some of his prize-winning budgerigars. Eventually, he had 140 budgerigars in his garden, said to be worth nearly UK£60,000 and owned rare species with names such as Normals, Cinnamons, Opalines and Spangles.
205. Hunt talks with Sarah Ferguson at the 1985 Monaco Grand Prix.
206. James Hunt in typical dress mode wanders around the paddock at the Austrian Grand Prix on 17th August 1986.
207. In the nineties James Hunt travelled everywhere in London by bicycle. He would keep a change of clothes in his haversack on his back to change into when arriving at his destination.
208. James Hunt and Niki Lauda in 1992. The two stayed good friends long after they retired from racing.
209. With Murray Walker and Mike Doodson in the commentary box at the Swiss Grand Prix at Dijon-Prenois on 29th August 1982.
210. One year into his commentating career for the BBC he finds it exhausting as he sleeps in the McLaren motorhome after the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday 21st June 1981.
211. BBC producer, Mark Wilkin (left) produced the Grand Prix programme for the last five years of Hunt’s life photographed here with VT operator Simon Barton. Wilkin and Hunt were both old boys of Wellington College.
212. Holding his youngest son, Freddie in front of the paddock area.
213. With his sons Tom (left) and Freddie (right) at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday 16th July 1989.
214. Freddie Hunt, the youngest son of James Hunt at the British Formula Ford Championship at Snetterton on 2nd June 2007. Freddie was the image of his father both physically and mentally. He raced in Formula Ford and Formula 3 categories for three years.
215. James Hunt and his fellow World Champions gather for a photograph at the Australian Grand Prix at Adelaide on 4th November 1990. From left to right back row: James Hunt, Sir Jackie Stewart, Denny Hulme. Front row: Nelson Piquet, Juan Manuel Fangio, Ayrton Senna and Sir Jack Brabham. Alain Prost declined the invitation to be photographed for reasons bets known to himself..
216. With Marlboro McLaren team principal Ron Dennis at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps on 25th August 1991. The two men were on the same wavelength and great friends.
217. With Ayrton Senna outside San Lorenzo in Knighstbridge, London on 1st April 1991. Afterwards Hunt gave Senna a lift in his A30 van, but not before Senna tried to break the lap record round Cadogan Square in the vehicle.
218. Mika Hakkinen, driving for Peter Collins’s Lotus team, in his second year of his Formula One career gets advice prior to the start of the Australian Grand Prix at Adelaide on 8th November 1992. Hunt was hired by John Hogan to mentor his young drivers.
219. With Alessandro Zanardi, Hakkinen’s team mate at the European Grand Prix at Donington Park on 11th April 1993. Hunt was helping out his old friend Peter Collins at this race.
220. John Hogan sensed something special in Hunt from the first day they met, and secured him his very first sponsorship deal. Patrick McNally was James Hunt’s Marlboro appointed minder from 1977 to the end of his career.
221. Nigel Mansell, unveiling his own waxwork at Madame Tussauds is visibly moved during a minute’s silence for James Hunt on the morning after his death on Wednesday 16th July 1993.
222. Suzy Miller, by then divorced from Richard Burton and Graham Hill’s widow, Bette Hill outside St James’s Church in Piccadilly , London following James Hunt’s memorial service on Friday 29th September 1989.
223. Sarah Lomax and her two sons Tom and Freddie Hunt and her mother Rosemary Lomax at her ex husband’s memorial service.
224. Jane Birbeck and Daley Thompson leave the memorial the memorial service at St James’s church. The former girlfriend of Hunt was dating the athlete at the time.
225. Helen Dyson, James Hunt’s last girlfriend, leaves his memorial service at St James’s church on Friday 29th September 1989.
226. At a special Mother’s Day lunch at the Tower Hotel, London, held by the Greeting Card and Calendar Association on 17th March 1976 Mrs Sue Hunt joined other mothers of famous people From left: Mrs JA Wilkie, the mother of Olympic swimmer, David Wilkie, Mrs H Zavaroni, mother of singer Lena Zavaroni, Mrs B Stracey mother of boxer John H. Stracey, Mrs Janicwiez, mother of boxer, Richard Dunn. Mrs O’Sullivan, mother of actor Richard O’Sullivian, Sue Hunt, mother of James and Mrs K Rantzen, mother of presenter Esther Rantzen.
227. Tim Hunt, the youngest of the Hunt brothers now lives in New York, where he is director of the Warhol Foundation. He is pictured with wife Tama Janowitz, an American novelist.
228. David Hunt, photographed in 1988, was the youngest of the Hunt brothers. He raced cars in his youth.
229. Christopher Hilton, the well known author penned two books about James Hunt after he died.
230. Four journalists who were very important to James Hunt during his career, Ian Philips, Eoin Young, Gerald Donaldson and David Phipps.