James Hunt, a renowned Formula One driver, was affectionately nicknamed "Hunt the Shunt" due to his numerous accidents in lower formulae. His illustrious F1 career commenced in 1973, driving for the iconic Hesketh team, a group infamous for their wild parties and eccentric attitude, which often led rival teams to underestimate their abilities.
Despite this, Hesketh and Hunt proved to be a formidable force in the 1974 and 1975 seasons, with Hunt securing a win in the Dutch Grand Prix and another in a non-championship race. This marked a significant turning point, as the team and driver began to garner recognition and respect from their peers.
In 1976, Hunt joined the esteemed McLaren team after Hesketh's demise, and what ensued was a dramatic and controversial season. Hunt was disqualified twice and reinstated as the winner in one race, while his friend and rival Niki Lauda narrowly escaped death in the German Grand Prix. Despite early season struggles, Hunt rebounded to claim the title in the thrilling final race in Japan, amidst torrential rain, much to the delight of the British fans.
Hunt spent two more seasons with McLaren, securing three additional victories, but by 1979, his passion and motivation began to wane. The tragic loss of his friend Ronnie Peterson in the 1978 Italian Grand Prix, whom he tried to save from his burning Lotus, further contributed to his disillusionment. Coincidentally, his rival Niki Lauda and friend Jody Scheckter also decided to retire from the sport around the same time.
Post-retirement, Hunt transitioned into a successful and entertaining commentator for the BBC's Grand Prix show, earning a new legion of fans. Tragically, his life was cut short on June 15, 1993, at the age of 45, due to a heart attack.
Hunt is survived by his two sons, Tom and Freddie.
