Daily James Hunt

Photos | Lore | Videos | James's Championship Year Recap - On This Day

It's not complicated around here. Every day I post something related to James Hunt, mostly photos, but sometimes videos, interviews, quotes, book extracts, press clippings or lore.

A long-forgotten of a news story ahead of the 1976 German Grand Prix. Everyone forgot about James's owie, not unreasonably, when Niki almost died. Image from Autosport magazine, 22 July 1976 edition

Race 10: German Grand Prix, Nürburgring, Germany, 1 August 1976

This race will never be forgotten because of Niki Lauda's crash. Against all expectations, he survived and thrived, but it was a horrific day for the sport, for Niki, and for his loved ones. Fifty years ago today, Niki Lauda almost died at the Nürburgring and this post will take a look at the events how they relate to James's title year. From this day onwards, James's career and reputation would be inextricably linked with Niki's.

James, Niki and Jody Scheckter at the Nurburgring, 1976.

Ahead of the race, the Grand Prix Drivers' Association had taken a vote on whether or not to race at the Nürburgring given the safety issues, which had passed by one vote. The Ring didn't meet then-modern safety standards and was too long to effectively marshal, but then as now, it was romantically associated with a bygone gladiatorial era of racing and considered an "ultimate challenge."

Niki gave a detailed interview to Autosport days before the race, in which he said that he understood he could die due to a mistake of his own, but he shouldn't die due to inadequate safety measures. James wrote later in Against The Odds that the drivers had "a political problem too because when we ask other tracks to do safety modifications for us they can say 'Look, you go and race on that bloody Nürburgring without those precautions - why should we bother?'"

Pete Lyons in Autosport reported after qualifying:

So the 10th round of the season shaped up as yet another battle between Lauda and Hunt, a familiar pattern tinged with the irony of their having to race each other over a circuit neither one liked, or approved of for that matter. That they were both so fast despite their reservations was quite a good show.

James famously said he was glad to see the finish line every lap and admitted he was "frightened, I don't mind telling you!" after qualifying on pole.

James Hunt at the French Grand Prix, 3 July 1977. Photo by Ercole Colombo