Hunt Socks

At some point, the sequence of events from the 1976 season made it unlikely that either Lauda or Hunt could be crowned champion. James, despite the natural skills and the extreme antics he performed behind the wheel, was still the underdog of the pack. He couldn’t care less about the technical stuff or about testing. All he wanted was to drive the wheels off whatever he was given.

Then came the infamous German Grand Prix, held at the so-called “Green Hell”. And hell it was for Lauda, as he inexplicably crashed at one of the easiest corners of the circuit. Brett Lunger couldn’t avoid a brutal collision with the Ferrari. Lauda’s helmet went flying, as his car burst into flames.

At the hospital, he was given the Last Rites, showing how serious his condition was. Against all odds, 39 days later he sat at the wheel of a Ferrari. His strength, courage, and willpower were the stuff of legends.

In the meantime, Hunt grabbed precious points, meaning the title would be decided at the last race, the Fuji Grand Prix. Under merciless weather, both drivers feared another tragedy, but only the McLaren man had something to prove. So, while Lauda entered the pit-lane after one lap, deciding it was too risky to race, Hunt kept pushing under treacherous conditions to grab the needed points for his single title.

Paying tribute to Niki or James is celebrating friendship, true sportsmanship, and bravery, and now you can comfortably do it.