by Tom Rubython
101. Enjoying a cigarette on the pit wall during qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix at Mount Fuji on 24th October 1976. Hunt smoked 40 cigarettes a day until the latter days of his life. In that time, many athletes smoked and it wasn’t regarded as a problem.
102. Niki Lauda looks pensive before the German Grand Prix before the race which would place his career and life in jeopardy. And on the pit wall with Jody Scheckter and James Hunt.
103. James Hunt celebrating on the podium after a first place finish at Zandvoort. The result brought him within two points of Niki Lauda in the world championship standings.
104. Celebrating another victory at the Canadian Grand Prix, Mosport on Sunday 3rd October 1976.
105. On the podium at the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen for the seventh time that season. It put the world championship in his grasp.
106. The McLaren team celebrates another win for James Hunt at Watkins Glen, which brought him within three points of championship leader Niki Lauda.
107. James Hunt poses for David Phipps during qualifying at Mount Fuji with the mountain itself in the background.
108. With Niki Lauda and the world motorcycle champion of that year, Barry Sheene on the pitwall of the Mount Fuji circuit.
109. A comical message from Alastair Caldwell for his driver about the need to wear in new brake pads.
110. Hunt ahead of team mate Jochen Mass at the start of a very wet and dangerous race at Mount Fuji.
111. Teddy Mayer holds three fingers up to James Hunt, signalling that he finished in third place. At this point, Hunt believed he had finished fourth due an incorrect pit board and was angry about what had happened with his pit stop for fresh tyres.
112. Teddy Mayer and Alastair Caldwell hold out a pit board telling their driver to call into the pits for a fresh set of tyres.
113. The McLaren team prepare a pit board asking Hunt whether it is time to switch to dry tyres due to the changing weather conditions at Mount Fuji. Nygaard
114. Japanese Airlines Flight No 421 from Tokyo to London via Anchorage. On the second leg of the flight Hunt finally fell asleep exhausted from celebrating. Clockwise from left Chris Jones, John Hogan, Alastair Caldwell and James Hunt.
115. Sue Hunt is reunited with her son at London’s Heathrow airport on 26th October 1976 upon his return from Tokyo after winning the 1976 Formula One world championship
116. Hundreds of fans made their way to Brands Hatch for the tribute meeting celebrating the new world champion. Hunt’s popularity in Great Britain was undeniable.
117. James Hunt, with Barry Sheene, is mobbed by fans and the media whilst being paraded at Brands Hatch after becoming the new world champion
118. The new world champion is interviewed by journalists at London’s Heathrow airport on 26th October 1976.
119. With Teddy Mayer and Ray Grant prior to the start at Buenos Aires. He retired on from the race on lap 32 and ploughed into catch fencing after his rear suspension broke.
120. In the McLaren pit at Interlagos posing with a female fan Sunday 9th January 1977.
121. Hunt’s McLaren M23 is launched into the air after hitting the rear wheel of John Watson’s Brabham-Alfa Romero. The race marked the end of his period of dominance in Formula One.
122. James Hunt with George Harrison at Long Beach on Sunday 3rd April
123. James Hunt was a backgammon fanatic and carried a board with him for impromptu games with Bernie Ecclestone and Teddy Mayer.
124. Jane Birbeck consoles her boyfriend after the finish of the United States West Grand Prix.
125. McLaren mechanic Gary Anderson pushes Hunt’s McLaren M26 back into the pits after his retirement at the Spanish Grand Prix, Sunday 8th May.
126. Racing in the McLaren M26 for the first time at Jarama. Hunt made no impact in the race and retired on lap 10 with a broken engine. He was further frustrated by the fact that team mate Jochen Mass finished fourth in the M23.
127. On board a private yacht with world motorcycle champion, Barry Sheene on John F. Kennedy Plaza at the Monte Carlo harbour on Sunday 22nd May.
128. Hunt sticks two fingers up to the photographer David Phipps at the Monaco Grand Prix. He loathed the street circuit and was led astray by the hedonistic pleasures the principality had to offer the night before the race.
129. With Niki Lauda at the Belgian Grand Prix. Hunt only managed seventh in the McLaren M26 and Lauda was favourite for the title again.
130. James Hunt loved the Paul Ricard track and brought his Mclaren-Ford M26 home in third place, his best showing of the season so far.
131. In mid 1977 James Hunts biography of the 1976 season was finally published. It sold 177,000 copies.
132. 100,000 ecstatic British Fans cheered Hunt on at the British Grand Prix as he crosses the line in first place in his McLaren-Ford M26 much to their delight. Sunday 16th July 1977.
133. Journalists felt that wining the world championship had gone to Hunt’s head. A unnamed journalist had some stickers made ‘James Hunt is a steaming turd’ that appeared everywhere in the paddock, Hunt himself seemed not to care.
134. With Stirling Moss after a disappointing Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort on Sunday 28th August. Hunt crashed out of the race after a challenge for the lead from Mario Andretti.
135. Hunt drives home his second victory of the season at the United States Grand Prix.
136. Celebrating his Watkins Glen victory in this famous photo by David Phipps after the race finished. He celebrates with a Penthouse magazine promotions girl with cigarette and a beer in hand.
137. Race winner James Hunt plays backgammon in the Marlboro hospitality trailer with his friend Chris Jones. He got the backgammon board out as often as he could.
138. James Hunt finished 1977 with a flourish as he drove to victory in the last race of the season in Japan, with the iconic Mount Fuji in the background. The weather was rather better than the year before.
139. James Hunt finished fourth, in the Argentinian Grand Prix on the 15th January. Only three seconds behind second placed Niki Lauda’s Brabham-Alfa Romeo. It was more competitive start to the season than Hunt expected.
140. Proof that he could wear a suit and tie when necessary came at this early season Marlboro sponsored event.
141. Competing in a cycling race with Niki Lauda round the Jacarepagua circuit at the Brazilian Grand Prix on 27th January 1978.
142. At the start of the South African Grand Prix, 4th March he retired from the race after he ‘simply lost interest and spun off.’
143. With Ronnie Peterson, Mario Andretti and Patrick Depallier on the pit wall at the Argentine Grand Prix, on 15th January 1978.
144. James Hunt stands by his retired car, at the United States West Grand Prix at Long Beach, Sunday 2nd April after he struck the wall before the pit straight on the sixth lap and knocked his right front wheel askew. He was distraught, and blamed himself for making a “stupid mistake”.
145. Teddy Mayer with James Hunt and his team mate Patrick Tambay at the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday 7th May, 1977.
146. Playing backgammon with Patrick McNally who looked after him at races for Marlboro in 1777 and 1978.
147. In an effort to find downforce McLaren experimented with an unusual front wing configuration on the McLaren M26 during practice for the Spanish Grand Prix. Hunt went on to finish sixth in the race. It made Marlboro’s John Hogan happy but the car was no faster.
148. With Brabham team owner Bernie Ecclestone on the weekend of the Swedish Grand Prix which saw the debut of the Brabham-Alfa Romeo fan car. Hunt and Ecclestone always had a special relationship.
149. Although he would have preferred to have Giles Villeneuve as his team mate James Hunt eventually warmed to his new team mate for 1978, a Frenchman called Patrick Tambay. They are photographed at Paul Ricard together.
150. Racing in the French Grand Prix in what would be his best performance of the year. Hunt managed to finish third but was sick in his helmet for the third
time in a race after over indulging with pate foie gras in local restaurants.
151. At the British Grand Prix before spinning off on lap 8. The race was a disaster as Hunt’s car spun right around at high speed without warning, causing him to crash into the Armco barrier. Hunt blamed both himself and the tyres.
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.
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.
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.’
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.
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 70s. 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 w
orking 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.
