On this day, 21 years ago, Formula One lost a very memorable face. James Simon Wallis Hunt was well known in the world of F1 racing; a World Champion and television commentator. His racing career was filled with alcohol, drugs and women. Early in his career, Hunt’s marriage collapsed. Hunt was most well known for his poor public image. Hunt has a reportedly poor relationship with his family because they did not support his decision to become a racing driver.
During his racing career he and Niki Lauda had one of the biggest rivalries in the sport’s history, first meeting Lauda in Formula Three. When both drivers advanced to Formula One, their rivalry grew. Despite joining the failing team for Hesketh, Hunt managed to resume his career with McLaren.
With McLaren, Hunt won his first and only World Championship by only one point in 1976 after Lauda suffered a near fatal accident in the 1976 German Grand Prix. With Lauda absent for two races and suffering from post-traumatic stress for the remainder of the season, Hunt was able to gain enough of a lead to win the season. In 1977, Hunt helped to begin the career for the Canadian racing legend, Gilles Villeneuve who beat Hunt in a Formula Atlantic race.
After he retired in 1979, Hunt started a race commentary career with BBC. This career would last for 13 years until his death. During these years he would work alongside Murray Walker and would become known for his dry sense of humour and knowledge of racing. He would often need to battle Walker for the sole microphone provided to the pair.
Two hours after proposing to his girlfriend Helen Dyson, Hunt would die of a severe heart attack at his home in England. It was reported that two days prior, Hunt bicycled from his home to the BBC broadcast centre to provide commentary for a race. This gives no signs to believe that Hunt was suffering from any medical issues.
Hunt will forever be remembered.
1947 – 1993
