James Hunt

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Born and raised in Surrey, Hunt began his racing career in touring cars before progressing to Formula Three in 1969, where he attracted the attention of Lord Hesketh, founder of Hesketh Racing. Hunt earned notoriety throughout his early career for his reckless and action-packed exploits on track, along with his playboy lifestyle off it. He signed for Hesketh in 1973—driving a March 731 chassis designed by Harvey Postlethwaite—making his Formula One debut at the Monaco Grand Prix; he took podiums in his rookie season at the Dutch and United States Grands Prix. Hesketh entered their own 308 chassis in 1974, in which Hunt achieved several podiums and won the non-championship BRDC International Trophy. Retaining his seat the following season, Hunt took his maiden victory with Hesketh at the Dutch Grand Prix, widely regarded as one of the greatest underdog victories in Formula One history. The team was left without sponsorship at the end of the season, leading Hunt to join McLaren for his 1976 campaign. Amidst a fierce title battle with Niki Lauda, Hunt won the World Drivers' Championship by a single point in his debut season with McLaren. He won several further races in 1977, dropping to fifth in the standings amidst reliability issues. After a winless 1978 season for McLaren, Hunt moved to Wolf in 1979 and retired after the Monaco Grand Prix, having achieved 10 race wins, 14 pole positions, eight fastest laps, and 23 podiums in Formula One. Upon retiring from motor racing, Hunt established a career as a commentator and pundit for the BBC, as well as a columnist for The Independent. Through Marlboro, he also mentored two-time World Drivers' Champion Mika Häkkinen. He died from a heart attack at his home in Wimbledon, aged 45.

In Their Own Story

The 1975 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort marked Hunt's first Formula One victory with Hesketh, a moment celebrated as an underdog triumph. Yet, his defining chapter began in 1976 when he joined McLaren. Amidst a fierce battle with Niki Lauda, the season unfolded with high drama. Hunt secured the World Drivers' Championship by a single point, a feat achieved during his debut season with the team. The rivalry was intense, characterized by Hunt's playboy lifestyle contrasting with the disciplined racing of his rivals. By 1977, he continued to win races but struggled with reliability issues that saw him drop to fifth in the standings. A winless 1978 followed, leading to his departure from McLaren for Wolf Racing in 1979, where he retired after the Monaco Grand Prix having achieved 10 race wins, 14 pole positions, eight fastest laps, and 23 podiums.

Reader's Guide

Hunt was born in Belmont, Surrey, the second child of Wallis Glynn Gunthorpe Hunt and Susan Noel Wentworth Hunt. He had an elder sister, Sally, three younger brothers, Peter, Timothy and David, and one younger sister, Georgina. Hunt's family lived in a flat in Cheam, Surrey, moved to Sutton when he was 11 and then to a larger home in Belmont. He attended Westerleigh Preparatory School, St Leonards-on-Sea Sussex and later Wellington College. Hunt first learned to drive on a tractor at a farm in Pembrokeshire, Wales, while on a family holiday. He passed his driving test one week after his seventeenth birthday. He also took up skiing in 1965 in Scotland. Before his eighteenth birthday, he went to the home of Chris Ridge, his tennis doubles partner. Ridge's brother Simon, who raced Minis, was preparing his car for a race at Silverstone that weekend. The Ridges took Hunt to see the race, which began his obsession with motor racing. Hunt's racing career started off in a racing Mini. He first entered a race at the Snetterton Circuit in Norfolk, but race scrutineers prevented him from competing. Hunt later brought the necessary funding from working as a trainee manager of a telephone company (Telephone Rentals Ltd) to enter three events. Hunt graduated to Formula Ford in 1968. He drove a Russell-Alexis Mark 14 car bought through a hire-purchase scheme. In his first race at Snetterton, Hunt finished fifth. He took his first win at Lydden Hill and also set the lap record on the Brands Hatch short circuit. In 1969, Hunt raced in Formula Three with a budget provided by Gowrings of Reading, which bought a Merlyn Mark 11A. Hunt won several races and achieved regular high-placed finishes, which led to the British Guild of Motoring Writers awarding him a Grovewood Award. Hunt was involved in a controversial incident with Dave Morgan during a battle for second position in the Formula Three Daily Express Trophy race at Crystal Palace on 3 October 1970. Both men were summoned by the RAC and after hearing evidence from other drivers, Hunt was cleared by a tribunal and Morgan was given a 12-month suspension of his racing licence. Hunt later met with John Hogan and racing driver Gerry Birrell to obtain sponsorship from Coca-Cola. Hunt's career continued in the works March team for 1972. His first race at Mallory Park saw him finish third, but he was excluded from the results as h

Did You Know?

• Hunt first learned to drive on a tractor at a farm in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
• He passed his driving test one week after his seventeenth birthday.
• Hunt was awarded the Campbell Trophy from the RAC after the 1973 season.
• He won the 1975 Dutch Grand Prix, considered one of the greatest underdog victories in Formula One history.
• Hunt died from a heart attack at his home in Wimbledon, aged 45.