James Hunt

James Simon Wallis Hunt (born 29th August, 1947 in Belmont, Surrey, United Kingdom, died 15th June, 1993 in Wimbledon, United Kingdom) was a British racing driver famous for his appearances in Formula One.

A style icon in his native Great Britain, Hunt's indulgent lifestyle made him one of the most intriguing characters in Grand Prix racing history.

Early Career

Like many of his contemporaries, Hunt began his motorsport career racing in saloon cars - racing his own Mini Cooper to some moderate success before stepping into single-seaters in the late 1960s.

Formula One

1976-: Brabham

By 1976, Hunt was racing for the Martini-backed Brabham team alongside Italian driver Lella Lombardi. His season was a moderate success, taking points at the opening round of the season.

The BT45 proved to be a decent car, but by virtue of not being at one of the 'big-three' teams in Formula One (Ferrari, McLaren and Lotus), Hunt would often be scrapping with the Ligier of Jacques Laffite for the lower points scoring positions, a fact not helped by the unreliable Alfa Romeo 115-12 in the back. In fact, Hunt's best result of the season - a second place in France - was behind his French rival in a race where the Ferrari team had withdrawn due to the death of Niki Lauda. Hunt would finish third on the road, but Henri Pescarolo's disqualification for rather ironically forcing Lella Lombardi off the road promoted Hunt to second after the race.

As well as his second place in France, he also took a pair of third places in the Soviet Union and Canada, with the latter coming after a storming drive in tricky conditions. In general, Hunt's season would feature brilliant drives that ended in engine failure, such as a potential podium run in Italy ruined by the unreliabilty of the Alfa Romeo engine.

Despite rumours to the contrary, Hunt continued with Brabham into 1977, now in the second year of his contract. Things looked optimistic at Brabham, with updates to the car and the abandonment of the Alfa Romeo engines in favour of Ford Cosworth DFV powerplants. Lombardi would again start the season as Hunt's team-mate, but after an appalling drive in the Argentine Grand Prix Brabham had finally had enough, and the Italian would be replaced with with one-time Grand Prix winner and Lotus refugee, Patrick Tambay.

Hunt's season would get off to a moderately decent start, taking a third place in the South African Grand Prix. Controversy would follow at the United States Grand Prix West, with Hunt involved in a collision with Thomas Nurmester and Carlos Reutemann, somehow driving into a spinning Nurmester and retiring from the race. Hunt would go on to finish fourth in the Spanish Grand Prix before the FISA Court of Appeal had deliberated over Hunt's punishment, which was to be a suspended one race suspended ban. Hunt responded to this in typical fashion, calling it "utter bollocks", before going on to take a sixth plae finish in Belgium. Monaco would see him in contention for a second third place of the year, but an all too familiar foe reared it's ugly head - engine reliability.

Later Life

Hunt would take on a career in broadcasting in later life, commentating on motorsport for the BBC right up until his death in 1993. He died of a heart attack in his Wimbledon home.

Complete Formula 1 Results

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	Points	WDC
1976	Martini Racing	Brabham BT45	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	ARG 4	RSA Ret	USW 5	ESP Ret	BEL 7	MON Ret	SOV 3	FRA 2	GBR Ret	GER 13†	AUT 6	NED Ret	ITA 14†	CAN 3	USA 6	JPN 10		21	6th
1977	Martini Racing	Brabham BT45B	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	ARG Ret	RSA 3	USW Ret	ESP 4	BEL 6	MON Ret	FRA	TUS	SOV	GBR	NED	GER	AUT	ITA	CAN	USA	JPN	8	8th