Photo essay Photojournalism

The magazine of the art-form of the photo-essay “A free, really high quality photo-essay magazine. Fabulous!” Stephen Fry. British actor, writer and film & documentary maker

Mar 2016 back issue

photographs by David Phipps Exhibition: Proud Chelsea, London 11th February – 3rd April 2016 www.proud.co.uk

The James Hunt: Girls, Beer and Victory exhibition at the Proud Gallery celebrates 40 years since Hunt’s 1976 Formula One World Championship win with historic photographs of the British playboy racing driver by photographer David Phipps. During the beginning of his career, Hunt’s often action-packed exploits on track earned him the nickname "Hunt the Shunt", due to his many hellacious crashes – including one which resulted in his car at the bottom of a lake. Albeit his reputation as a loose cannon and his off-track bad boy exploits, Hunt was a firm fan favourite and his fiery personality attracted the attention of the maverick Lord Hesketh, entering Formula One for Hesketh Racing in 1973. Hunt’s racing reputation soon began to rival his notoriety off the track and he became a force to be reckoned with, later moving to McLaren. Phipps’ photographs chronicle the impassioned rivalry between Hunt and Ferrari’s Niki Lauda as they battled it out for the 1976 Championship. After a controversial and intense season, which saw Hunt disqualified twice and re-instated as the winner of the Spanish Grand Prix and Lauda’s near-fatal crash in Nurburgring where his car caught fire, Hunt was able to close the gap. At the final dramatic race in Japan, Hunt attained the Formula One World Drivers Championship title in 1976 by just one point.

Winner James Hunt, British Grand Prix, 1977. © Phipps/Sutton Images Collection

Second placed Niki Lauda and winner James Hunt on the podium, British Grand Prix, 1977. © Phipps/Sutton Images Collection

James Hunt celebrates his win in Victory Lane with his McLaren M26, a cigarette, a beer, and a Penthouse Pet. United States Grand Prix East,1977. © Phipps/Sutton Images Collection

Patrick Tambay and James Hunt, United States Grand Prix, 1978. © Phipps/Sutton Images Collection

James Hunt attempts to pull Ronnie Peterson from his burning Lotus79, Italian Grand Prix, 1978. © Phipps/Sutton Images Collection

Bernie Ecclestone plays backgammon in the paddock with James Hunt, 1977. © Phipps/Sutton Images Collection

James Hunt with his girlfriend Jane Birbeck, United States Grand Prix, 1977. © Phipps/Sutton Images Collection

Jody Scheckter talks with Niki Lauda and race winner James Hunt, German Grand Prix, 1976. © Phipps/Sutton Images Collection