James Hunt

James Hunt

James Simon Wallis Hunt (29 August 1947 – 15 June 1993) was an English racing driver who won the Formula One World Championship in 1976. Hunt's often action packed exploits on track earned him the nickname "Hunt the Shunt." After retiring from driving, Hunt became a media commentator and businessman.

Beginning his racing career in touring car racing, Hunt progressed into Formula Three where he attracted the attention of the Hesketh Racing team and was soon taken under their wing. Hunt entered Formula One in 1973, driving a March 731 entered by the Hesketh Racing team. He went on to win for Hesketh, driving their own Hesketh 308 car, in both World Championship and non-Championship races, before joining the McLaren team at the end of 1975. In his first year with McLaren, Hunt won the World Drivers' Championship, and he remained with the team for a further two years, although with less success, before moving to the Wolf team in early 1979. However, following a string of races in which he failed to finish, Hunt retired from driving halfway through the 1979 season.

He is latterly remembered for his commentary career for the BBC, which he took up following his retirement. Hunt was known for his knowledge, insights, dry sense of humour and his criticism of drivers whom he believed were not trying hard enough which in the process, brought him a whole new fanbase.