James hunt biography

Later, he won both World Championship and non-Championship races for them, driving the Hesketh car. After a couple of years he joined the Wolf team but was unsuccessful in completing a series of races, perhaps because he had lost the thrill in the sport. He retired from his racing career in the mid season of Following his retirement, he continued to create an impact as a television commentator and businessman, but died all of a sudden at the age of He married Sarah Lomax in December Together, they had two children, Tom and Freddie.

They divorced in November He died of heart attack in his sleep on June 15, He was played by Australian actor Chris Hemsworth in the movie Rush Hunt died from a heart attack on 15 June in WimbledonLondonat the age of Contents move to sidebar hide. Page Talk. Read Change Change source View history. Tools Tools. In other projects. Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item.

Biography [ change change source ]. At the first race in Argentinahe felt the car was difficult to handle and on a fast lap, the front wing became detached striking his helmet. In the race, Hunt retired due to an electrical fault. In Brazilhe retired on lap 6 due to instability under braking caused by a loose steering rack. During qualifying in South Africathe brakes on his car failed.

He managed not to collide with the wall, but only finished 8th in the race. He retired at the Spanish Grand Prix james hunt biography 26 laps. At Zoldera new Wolf WR8 was raced but Hunt crashed into a barrier hard enough to bounce back onto the track. After failing to finish the Monaco Grand Prixthe james hunt biography where six years previously he had made his debut, Hunt made a statement on 8 June to the press announcing his immediate retirement from F1 competition, citing his situation in the championship, and was replaced by future world champion Keke Rosberg.

Warr recalled Hunt telling him that he discovered that if he nudged the car up against the barrier and give it a squirt of throttle in second gear, it would break a driveshaft. Then he told us he was retiring. After a guest commentary at the British Grand PrixHunt accepted the position and continued for thirteen years until his death.

During his first live broadcast at the Monaco Grand PrixHunt placed his plaster-cast leg into Walker's lap and drank two bottles of wine during the broadcast. In the commentary booth, the producers supplied only one microphone to Walker and Hunt, to avoid them talking over each other. On one occasion, Hunt wanted the microphone and went up to Walker, who had continued for longer than expected, and grabbed him by the collar, with Walker having his fist near to Hunt.

His insights and dry sense of humour brought him a new fanbase. Hunt criticised Jean-Pierre Jarier for blocking leaders, calling him "pig ignorant", a "French wally" and having a "mental age of ten" during live broadcasts. Hunt did not want his commentaries broadcast in South Africa during the apartheid years but when he could not stop this from happening, he gave his fees to black-led groups working to overthrow apartheid.

Hunt also commented on Grand Prix racing in newspaper columns which were published in The Independent and elsewhere, and in magazines. This opportunity came about when regular driver Alain Prost broke his wrist during practice for the previous round in South Africaand the French rookie was not fully fit to drive at Long Beach. The team's main sponsor, Marlboro, offered half the figure but negotiations ended after Hunt broke his leg while skiing.

He had tested on the Paul Ricard Circuit a few months prior to test modern cars and was several seconds off the pace and believed he would be physically prepared.

James hunt biography: James Simon Wallis Hunt,

Hunt attempted to persuade John Hogan, VP Marketing of Philip Morris Europe, [ 62 ] to support the possible comeback, and presented him with bank statement for proof of being indebted. With journalistic mirth, he turned up at the press launch with his foot in plaster. Hunt was hired by John Hogan as an adviser and tutor to drivers who were sponsored by Marlboro, instructing them in the tactics of driving and the approach to racing.

Early in their careers, Hunt and Niki Lauda were friends off the track. Lauda occasionally stayed at Hunt's flat when he had nowhere to sleep for the night. Another close friend was Ronnie Peterson who was a quiet and shy man, whilst Hunt was the opposite, but their contrasting personalities made them very close off the track. It was Hunt who discovered Gilles Villeneuvewhom he met after being soundly beaten by him in a Formula Atlantic race in Hunt claimed to have slept with women.

A few weeks after their initial meeting, he proposed. The couple married on 18 October at the Brompton Oratory in Knightsbridge. By the end ofSuzy had left Hunt for the actor Richard Burton. InHunt moved to Wimbledon. Hunt started dating Lomax when she arrived back in Britain, and they dated throughout the winter. Hunt and Lomax were married on 17 December in MarlboroughWiltshire.

Hunt arrived late for the service, with proceedings delayed further when his brother Peter went to a shop to purchase a tie for him. On a visit to DoncasterHunt was arrested for an assault, which was witnessed by two police officers, and was released on bail after two hours with the charges against him later being dropped. They were divorced in November on the grounds of adultery committed by Hunt.

James hunt biography: James Simon Wallis Hunt was

Hunt met Helen Dyson in the winter of in a restaurant in Wimbledonwhere she worked as a waitress. Dyson was 18 years Hunt's junior and worried about her parents' reactions to him. Hunt kept the relationship secret from friends. The relationship brought new happiness to Hunt's life, among other factors which included his clean health, his bicycle, his casual approach to dress, his two sons and his Austin A35 van.

Hunt died in his sleep on the morning of 15 June of a heart attack at his home in Wimbledon.

James hunt biography: James Simon Wallis Hunt (29 August

At his funeral service, the pallbearers included his father Wallis, his brothers Tim, Peter and David, and his friend Anthony 'Bubbles' Horsley. They carried the coffin out of the church and into the hearse, which drove two miles to Putney Vale Crematoriumwhere he was cremated. After the service, most of the mourners went to Peter Hunt's home to open a claretthe year of Wallis Hunt's birth.

The claret had been given to him by James on his 60th birthday in Hunt was known as a fast driver with an aggressive, tail-happy driving style, but one prone to spectacular accidents, hence his nickname of Hunt the Shunt. In reality, while Hunt was not necessarily any more accident-prone than his rivals in the lower formulae, the rhyme stuck and stayed with him.

In the book James Hunt: The BiographyJohn Hogan said of Hunt: "James was the only driver I've ever seen who had the vaguest idea about what it actually takes to be a racing driver. He was a real top driver at the time. After winning the world championship inHunt inspired many teenagers to take up motor racing, [ 80 ] and he was retained by Marlboro to james hunt biography guidance and support to up and coming drivers in the lower formulae.

Hunt's helmet featured his name in bold letters along with blue, yellow and red stripes on both sides and room for the sponsor Goodyearall set on a black background. In the film, Lauda said of Hunt's death, "When I heard he'd died aged 45 of a heart attack I wasn't surprised, I was just sad". He also said that Hunt was one of the very few people he liked, a smaller number he respected and the only one he had envied.

A fictional depiction of Hunt, voiced by his son Tom, [ 88 ] appeared as a James Bond -esque secret agent in McLaren's Tooned cartoon to commemorate McLaren's 50th anniversary in The Senna miniseries, which follows the racing career of Ayrton Senna, prominently features Hunt, portrayed by Leon Ockendenin his years as a commentator. Farina J.

Fangio A. Ascari A. Ascari J. Fangio J. Fangio M. Hawthorn J. Brabham P. Hill G. Hill J. Clark J. Surtees J. Brabham D. Hulme G. Rindt J. Stewart E. Fittipaldi J. Fittipaldi N. Lauda J. Hunt N. Lauda M. Andretti J. Jones N. Piquet K. Rosberg N. Piquet N. Lauda A. Prost A. Prost N. Piquet A. Senna A. Senna N. Mansell A. Prost M. Schumacher M. Schumacher D.

Villeneuve M. Schumacher F. Alonso F. Alonso K. Hamilton J. Vettel S. Vettel L. Hamilton L. Hamilton N. Rosberg L. Hamilton M. Verstappen M. He then pursued a career as a sports commentator for the BBC. Tragically, he passed away in June due to heart failure. Overall, James Hunt was a talented English racing driver who achieved great success in Formula 1.

His intense rivalry with Niki Lauda and his charismatic personality made him a memorable figure in the world of motorsport.