Flashes of red, yellow and blue on a black base – as racing helmet liveries go, James Hunt’s was one of the best known. Particularly after he clinched the F1 World Drivers’ Championship at the last race of that extraordinary 1976 season.
JUN 13th 2016
McLaren celebrates Hunt with special P1 at FoS
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James’ win came in his first year driving for McLaren; now 40 years on McLaren is tipping its hat to what was a remarkable achievement by Britain’s coolest racing driver with a special one-off P1 GTR to take on the hill at this year’s Festival of Speed. The car’s colour scheme? Black with red, yellow and blue stripes…
Its presence at FoS this year will be part of a major celebration of the man and his world title, the perfect embodiment of the “Full Throttle” 2016 FoS theme. James’ cars – from his A35 road car to the Surtees, Hesketh, McLaren and Wolf F1 machines – will be on display. Joining in the celebrations will be James’ sons Tom and Freddie.
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James, who died of a heart attack 23 years ago this week (15 June), chose his helmet colours because they were the colours of his old school. At FoS they will adorn the McLaren-entered P1 GTR to be driven up the Goodwood hill in the Supercar Run by Bruno Senna. You can’t help but think that James would dearly have loved to be behind the wheel of the 1000ps hybrid himself…
The Hunt celebration P1 is one of a pair of the ultra rare, £2m GTRs to feature at FoS this year. The second car is entered by Lanzante (the team behind the McLaren F1’s debut Le Mans win in 1995) and will be just as special to see. This GTR has been modified to be street-legal and thus will be out to set fastest time of the weekend for a road car.
And with 1999 Indy 500 winner and Goodwood favourite Kenny Bräck behind the wheel you’d have to say its chances are looking good!
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