10 THINGS ABOUT JAMES HUNT YOU SHOULD KNOW

James Hunt is one of those people who need no introduction. An undisputed legend of Formula 1 history. He competed in the top category and led a "bohemian" life. He lived only 45 years, but 45 years lived to the fullest, without wasting a single minute of his life. Although he possessed exceptional talent as a runner, he also made an impression off the track. He was a true icon that marked the 70s, a dandy, a playboy, and to this day he remains a myth. His story deserves to be told, and that is why we are going to tell you 10 things about James Hunt, the rock star in a pilot's body.

1. FROM BOOKS TO ASPHALT

James Simon Wallis Hunt was born in 1947 in Belmont, Great Britain, into a wealthy and conservative family. The son of a stockbroker, all indications were that Hunt would study medicine. But the boy proved to be rebellious from an early age. At the age of 18, a cousin invited him to a car race and from that moment he felt a crush for speed. He was very clear: he would be a Formula 1 driver. But that business of trading books for asphalt did not sit well with the family, they turned their backs on him and even accused him of tarnishing his last name. Hunt had to manage to achieve his dream, even if he had to sacrifice the blessing of his loved ones to do so. He alternated two jobs at the same time, day and night, to save a little and buy a Mini to race with. With hardly any experience in cars, Hunt showed that no one beat perseverance and began training day in and day out. Soon his presence was noted in the motor world and he managed to jump to Formula 3, and from there to Formula 2, and finally shone in F1.

2. THE AGGRESSIVE DRIVING OF JAMES HUNT

On the asphalt James Hunt stood out for his characteristic driving style. He liked very aggressive driving. On the track he expressed what he was: a man of extremes, of “all or nothing”. He had a style marked by skids and he always ran to the limit, bordering on loss of control. Watching him run was very exciting for the viewer and generated a lot of expectation, since he was really fast, but when he exceeded the limit, which was quite often, he caused very spectacular accidents. This led to him earning the nickname “Hunt the Shunt” (shunt: maneuver, exit), for his tendency to accidents and destroying cars. On one occasion, at the age of 21, he ended up in a lake. As contradictory as it may seem, thanks to the fact that he did not have the regulatory seatbelts, the runner was able to get out on time and save his life. Hunt was involved in incidents with his rivals, in which, on one occasion, he ended up in a fistfight off the court.

3. OUT OF CONTROL LIFE: THE ANTIHERO OF F1

No one will deny that James Hunt was an excellent runner, but it could be said that the life he led was not ideal for an elite athlete. Too much partying, he smoked 2 packs of cigarettes a day, he drank a lot... He was what is considered a playboy, a rogue and a funny character. Tall, charismatic, handsome and with long blonde hair, he conquered half the world .

Hunt was a born rebel, and even before competing in Formula 1 he was labeled a badass and a car-wrecker. However, there is a key factor in Hunt's career: his relationship with Lord Alexander Hesketh, a 22-year-old aristocrat who had inherited a fortune. Lord Hesketh didn't understand cars, but he liked the atmosphere and the glamour that surrounded motor racing. He discovered James Hunt and saw in him the pilot he was looking for. He created the F1 team Hesketh Racing, having Hunt as a driver in his team. It was he who provided the British with his cars and with whom he succeeded years later. Hesketh brought excesses and bohemian life to the motor world, and in that there was no other like Hunt.

She would not have been able to lead that life had she been born a few decades later. Currently, the physical shape and care of athletes is something tremendously demanding, they are subjected to strict tests and alcohol and other substances are more than prohibited.

4. HUNT, A MAN COMMITTED TO HIS TIME

Behind that playboy and rockstar image he hid a sensitive and committed side. It may not seem true, but he was a person concerned with aspects that could be irrelevant to him in a position like his. He was interested and became aware of what was happening in the world. He was a lover of animals, and specifically of birds. In his house he built an aviary, in which he kept 300 parrots in his garden with their own pens. On many occasions he claimed that the fuels did not contain so many pollutants, since it was harmful to the environment. But Hunt also defended greater causes, and got wet without shame. During his time as a commentator on the BBC, Hunt was a staunch activist against racism in the 1980s, specifically against South Africa's apartheid regime. In fact, funded groups in the Anti-Apartheid movement.

5. HUNT BECAME A FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPION

After competing for four years in F3, in 1972 James Hunt made the leap to F1 with Hesketh. From there, six years of professional success awaited him. He debuted in 1973 at the Monaco Grand Prix. He was so nervous that minutes before starting the tension made him vomit. He started in 18th position but, due to engine failure, he had to abandon the race. However, that same year he showed his talent at the US Grand Prix.USA, in which he was on the podium for the first time, finishing in second place.

In 1975, after Hunt's evolution, the Hesketh team consolidated and Hunt won the Dutch Grand Prix, at the Zandvoort circuit. He took the victory, against a Niki Lauda who seemed unbeatable. Hunt was shutting up a lot of mouths, and when Emerson Fittipaldi left McLaren, Hunt joined the team.

Hunt's best year was without a doubt 1976. Uploaded to his McLaren M23, after winning six Grand Prix: the Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Canadian and US Grand Prix.USA, was established as world champion. However, it was also a controversial year. He had to face various controversies, such as a disqualification for driving a car that was too wide, the rejection of a victory...

In 1977 Hunt took home three Grand Prix: the British Grand Prix, the US Grand Prix, and the British Grand Prix.USA and that of Japan. His last podium was in 1978 in France, third. In 1979, he leaves McLaren and joins Wolf. Months later he announces his retirement.

6. JAMES HUNT FAILED IN HIS FIRST MARRIAGE

In 1974 James Hunt meets model Suzy Miller, and a few weeks later they get married. The marriage lasted only a year. The reality is that Hunt was not a marriageable man, given his lifestyle. The following year, she met the actor Richard Burton, and although he was twice her age, she saw in him everything she was missing with Hunt. They walked down the aisle, and Burton offered the pilot a million dollars for a divorce. It sounds funny, but Hunt was delighted: he'd gotten rid of a woman he'd never really loved, and they were still giving him a good deal of money.

7. HUNT AND LAUDA: TWO FRIENDLY RIVALS

Niki Lauda was the biggest rival for James Hunt. However, a beautiful friendship arose between the two. They were tremendously opposite, perhaps that is why they complemented each other so well. That union seemed like yin and yang. Faced with the life of Hunt that we already know, Lauda was a serious, meticulous and disciplined guy. Despite the great rivalry, they were great friends. They even came to share a flat and in Hunt's worst moments, Lauda was his pillar.

8. A LIFE WORTHY OF A MOVIE

The relationship of rivalry and friendship with Lauda was something so special that it served as inspiration for the big screen. Film director Ron Howard made the film “Rush” in 2013, showing Hunt's quirky personality. It begins with an F3 race at the Crystal Palace circuit in England, showing the rivalry between the two. It focuses mainly on the 1976 season, with special attention to the tragic accident suffered by Lauda.

9. HIS NEW LIFE OFF THE TRACK

His retirement from the slopes was not going to be easy. He continued to lead a rock and roll life, and the change caused him to fall into some depression. But little by little, with help and a new job, he recovered.

Once off the slopes, Hunt wanted to continue dedicating himself to his great passion. From 1980 to 1983 he worked as a F1 commentator for the BBC, alongside legend Murray Walker. They were two polar opposites, a totally contradictory couple, but both got along great and formed a reputable and iconic duo. Walker acknowledged that when they told him who his bus partner would be, he was shocked, but over the years he discovered that Hunt was a great guy and an excellent companion.

10. LATE LOVE

If James Hunt ever fell in love, it was too late. In 1989 he meets Helen Dyson, a simple woman who would change his life. Plunged into a deep depression, the young woman returns his joy and Hunt manages to leave alcohol, tobacco and a life of debauchery. When he finally achieves happiness and a stable life, on June 14, 1993 he asks her to marry him, to which she says yes. Just one day later, James Hunt dies of a heart attack.

James Hunt was a benchmark in the history of F1. Even today his story continues to cause furor. Now you know more about the great myth and you know the real Hunt, without a helmet and off track.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

• HOW DID JAMES HUNT DIED?

he Died on June 15, 1993 due to a heart attack , just one day after he proposed to Helen Dyson.

• HOW MANY WORLD CUP DOES JAMES HUNT HAVE?

The runner won many races during his career. However, the world title was taken only once, in 1976.

• WHO WON MORE TITLES, NIDA OR HUNT?

If we compare them, the clear winner is Nida. In his career he has 177 grand prix and 3 world titles, compared to the 93 grand prix and 1 single title that Hunt won.

• WHY WERE THEY CALLED HIM HUNT THE SHUNT?

Hunt was called Hunt the Shunt due to his tendency to wreck cars and cause accidents in races.