Hunts eften action packed exploits on the track earned him the nickname hunt the shunt. Beginning his racing career in touring car racing, hunt progressed into formula three, where he attracted the attention of the hesketh racing team and soon came under their wing. James simon wallis hunt was a british racing driver who became hugely popular in 1970s. Lauda became a racing driver despite his familys disapproval. Niki lauda was born on 22 february 1949 in vienna, austria, to a wealthy paper manufacturing family. Wallis was the name of james father, who wanted his son to become a doctor, not a racing driver. Hunts family lived in a flat in cheam, surrey, moved to sutton when he was 11 and then to a larger home in belmont. Niki lauda rival james hunts son in emotional tribute to formula. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, life, achievements, works and timeline. Oct 26, 2016 racing driver james hunt with model sue shaw image.
Legendary formula 1 driver niki lauda has died aged 70. His parents were brought up in strict victorian environments and worked hard to maintain discipline in the family. James hunt, who lived life at 200 miles an hour, died in june 1993 after a quiet evening of playing snooker in his home here. Celebrating 70 years since the birth of the formula 1 world champion and motor racing legend james hunt, omologato is to launch the official james hunt chronograph. Andreas nikolaus lauda 22 february 1949 20 may 2019 was an austrian formula one driver, a threetime f1 world drivers champion, winning in 1975, 1977 and 1984, and an aviation entrepreneur. On tuesday, james s son and fellow racing driver freddie hunt paid his own tribute on his personal twitter. A local farm worker taught james the basics while he was on a family. The former racing driver narrowly escaped death in 1976 when he was trapped in a fireball inferno after crashing at the 1976 german grand prix. Niki lauda was the formula one world champion in 1975, 1977 and 1984, the first two with ferrari and the last with mclaren. James simon wallis hunt 29 august 1947 15 june 1993 was a british racing driver who won the formula one world championship in 1976. James hunt was an f1 playboy who bedded 5,000 women.
In the german grand prix at the nurburgring, laudas. As an insightful book on james hunt recalls his f1 tussles with niki lauda, the austrian tells paul weaver about the accident that led to his famous title defeat in 1976 and the respectful. Mike hawthorn career overview years in numbers the following numbers are a summary of the more detailed information available in the career details further below on the page. Laudas fiercest rival during his 70s and 80s pomp was the late british racing star, james hunt. He took me seriously and said that the best plan was to assume anything was possible, and to ignore.
Feb 18, 2020 niki lauda, austrian racecar driver who won three formula one f1 grand prix world championships 1975, 1977, and 1984, the last two of which came after his remarkable comeback from a horrific crash in 1976 that had left him severely burned and near death. Detailed karting statistics not covered by driver database. Oct 08, 2017 an interview with british motor racing legend james hunt. May 21, 2019 he was wellknown for his rivalry with mclaren driver james hunt and was at the heart of one of the most dramatic seasons in the history of grand prix racing in 1976. Freddie hunt racing career profile driver database. Sharing two pictures of himself with lauda, freddie wrote. James simon wallis hunt, born on august 29, 1947, into the family of a london. As a driver he overcame constant fear and enormous odds to become the best in the world triumphing in one of the most dramatic championship battles in formula one history. May 21, 2019 lauda was in a brawl with james hunt for that years championship. It all represented the cliches of the professional racing driver of the 1970s, the fast life.
The move to cars came at 16, which marked the beginning of jamess intense driver training. Efter retiring frae drivin, hunt became a media commentator an businessman. Born in belmont, surrey, he was nicknamed hunt the shunt because of his many crashes early in his career. James hunts racing legacy lives on freddie hunt the son of the late formula 1 world champion james hunt prepares to drive his dads hesketh cosworth 308b at the goodwood festival of speed on july 12, 2008 in chichester england. Oct 16, 2010 tragically, a few hours later james hunt had a massive heart attack and died at the age of 45. Hunt broke into international formula one racing in 1973, his good looks, glib sense of. British racing driver guy edwards says he didnt think twice when he. His paternal grandfather was the vienneseborn industrialist hans lauda. From 1994 onward hunt attempted to bring team lotus back to f1. On tuesday, jamess son and fellow racing driver freddie hunt paid his own. File in this july 31, 1977 file photo, austrian racing driver niki lauda in his ferrari leads james hunt from great britain in his mclaren during the formula one west german grand prix auto race.
James was a budgie fancier, building an aviary for hundreds of birds in the back garden of his home in wimbledon, london. A selfconfident and competitive person both in and out of the driver s seat, james simon wallis hunt enjoyed a relatively short and tumultuous racing career. Now, a month ahead of the 20th anniversary of hunts death of a heart attack, aged just 45, there is concern among friends that the racing drivers. He once shared an apartment with his rival niki lauda. Racing driver james hunt with model sue shaw image. The film chronicles the impassioned rivalry between lauda and the british driver james hunt as they battle it out for the 1976 championship. James hunt share james hunt s was a turbulent life lived to the limit in and out of racing cars. Known for its wild parties and eccentric attitude, hesketh wasnt taken too seriously by rival teams, but after competitive outings in 1974 and 1975, including a win in the dutch grand prix and. James hunts early life james hunt was born in belmont, sutton, surrey as the second child of sue and wallis hunt, a successful stockbroker. Niki lauda, austrian racecar driver who won three formula one f1 grand prix world championships 1975, 1977, and 1984, the last two of which came after his remarkable comeback from a horrific crash in 1976 that had left him severely burned and near death. The man, the myths, the legends and our favourite tales a collection of our favourite facts and stories about the legendary driver who. To become successful in automotive racing a driver needs to posess and constantly evolve numerous attributes. Rush only hints at racecar driver james hunts exploits.
James was the only driver ive ever seen who had the vaguest idea about what it actually takes to be a racing driver. Oct 05, 2016 as an insightful book on james hunt recalls his f1 tussles with niki lauda, the austrian tells paul weaver about the accident that led to his famous title defeat in 1976 and the respectful. This training quickly grew into what is today, competitive racing, instructing and coaching. After retiring from racing in 1979, hunt became a media commentator and businessman.
Given up for dead after an appalling accident he recovered by what the medical profession called sheer force of will. But once he joined forces with lord alexander hesketh, hunt rapidly ascended through formula three and formula two. Few names in motorsport evoke pure racing passion as much as the legendary james hunt. Niki lauda was a force of nature in the racing world and beyond. James hunt, 45, racecar driver known for style as well as title. In contrast to the drug, alcohol and adrenalinfueled life he had led as a racing driver, hunt died clean and sober. Formula 1 ace james hunts son reveals his dad once had. During his career in f1, he won 10 grand prix and attained 14 pole positions from 92 starts. Those old enough to have followed formula 1 racing back in the 1970s will remember james hunt as the carefree, impossibly goodlooking driver who shocked and entertained the racing establishment with the flaky, bombastic hesketh racing team, but also as the driver who became formula one world champion with mclaren after an epic battle with niki lauda. Even in death, james hunt would not be denied a good time.
The race was restarted an hour later, and british driver james hunt. To become successful in automotive racing a driver needs to. The real james hunt is a documentary about the life of james hunt, a racing driver and formula one world champion who today is remembered as one of the great characters from the golden era of grand prix racing. At the peak of his fame in the 1970s, james hunt s deathdefying antics on the racing circuit and party lifestyle won him rockstar status and legions of devoted fans. James hunt the shunt the 1970s highflyin lothario rush. Niki lauda rival james hunts son in emotional tribute to. He is the only driver in f1 history to have been champion for both ferrari and. Niki lauda on rush, the real james hunt, and the crash that. He was intent on being a doctor before being taken to an auto race by his friend.
Fans called him hunt the shunt because of his crazy antics on the racetrack. His family announced the night of may 20 that lauda had died after battling with the lingering effects of that 1976. After his career as a racing driver, he became an airline entrepreneur and, most recently, a nonexecutive chairman for the formula 1 mercedes team, instrumental in bringing in british driver. Filmed in 1976 if you would like to license a clip from this video please e mail. James hunts son, freddie, talks about the passing of f1. An interview with british motor racing legend james hunt. The 1976 world champion james hunt distinguished himself more for crashes and the occasional punchup with his rivals early on in his career. Niki lauda was a force of nature in the racing world and. One of the important aspects of any championship winning effort is the driver. He became a formula ford driver in 1968, moving to formula three. James hunt, british racecar driver who won the 1976 formula one f1 grand prix world championship by one point over his austrian. David hunt 20 may 1960 11 october 2015 was an english racing driver and younger brother of 1976 formula one world champion james hunt hunt started racing at 15 and moved up to formula ford in 1981. Tragically, a few hours later james hunt had a massive heart attack and died at the age of 45.
May 21, 2019 the film chronicles the impassioned rivalry between lauda and the british driver james hunt as they battle it out for the 1976 championship. Lauda was in a brawl with james hunt for that years championship. Niki lauda, right, with his friend and rival james hunt before the start of. Legendary formula one driver niki lauda has died at the age of 70, his family said. Hunt began racing his own car in formula ford events in 1969. Jul 19, 20 james hunt, who lived life at 200 miles an hour, died in june 1993 after a quiet evening of playing snooker in his home here. My thoughts go out to mathias and the whole lauda family. The motto on the champs racing overalls read sex, breakfast of champions. Star racing driver who survived a nearfatal crash to win the formula one. Hunt was born in 1947 to a london stockbroker and from an early age his parents found him unruly and rebellious. He quickly graduated to formula three races, where his aggressive driving and. Jun 16, 1993 james hunt, 45, racecar driver known for style as well as title. Jul 10, 2017 celebrating 70 years since the birth of the formula 1 world champion and motor racing legend james hunt, omologato is to launch the official james hunt chronograph a limited edition watch of.
To celebrate the upcoming release of rush, the film detailing james hunts titanic battle with niki lauda in 1976, and the release of the james hunt collection in the mclaren store, we caught catch up with his son, tom hunt, to ask him about an exciting year ahead for his fathers legacy. A s a driver, hunt worked his way through teams like he worked his way through women, graduating from formula three to f1 in 1973 with hesketh racing team before. Monte carlo, monaco may 23, 20 prlog the 20 monaco grand prix will mark the 40th anniversary of 1976 formula one world champion james hunts grand prix debut. To celebrate the upcoming release of rush, the film detailing james hunt s titanic battle with niki lauda in 1976, and the release of the james hunt collection in the mclaren store, we caught catch up with his son, tom hunt, to ask him about an exciting year ahead for his fathers legacy. Niki laudas great rivalry with james hunt and the crash. Rush true story vs movie real niki lauda crash, real james hunt. James hunt was known as hunt the shunt for his many accidents in lower formulas. British racing driver who won the formula one world championship in 1976. James hunts was a turbulent life lived to the limit in and out of racing cars. Championships in automotive racing are only won with a complete package. Given up for dead after an appalling accident he recovered by what.
When he passed away from a heart attack in 1993 at age 45, hunts will stipulated that. As a driver he overcame constant fear and enormous odds to become the best in. James simon wallis hunt 29 august 1947 15 juin 1993 wi a british racing driver for england who won the formula one world championship in 1976. Lauda became a racing driver despite his family s disapproval. James hunts son freddie has offered an interesting insight into the relationship between his father and his very good friend niki lauda. Niki lauda share he bought his way into formula 1 racing and very nearly paid for it with his life. Though james hunt may have had the glamour and attracted more of a rock star type of following, it is hard to dispute that lauda was the better driver. Words cannot describe how sad i am to hear of nikis death. James simon wallis hunt 29 august 1947 15 june 1993 was a british racing driver who. James hunt, british racecar driver who won the 1976 formula one f1 grand prix world championship by one point over his austrian archrival, niki lauda.
He was wellknown for his rivalry with mclaren driver james hunt and was at the heart of one of the most dramatic seasons in the history of grand prix racing in 1976. James hunt, 45, racecar driver known for style as well as. Were following rookie pro driver james hunt as he learns the ropes, hits new heights, and deals with the inevitable lows in his trail to potential sportscar racing stardom in 2008. He started his f1 career in 1973, driving for the maverick hesketh team.
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