"Hunt v. Lauda—Grand Prix Season 1976"

“Hunt v. Lauda—Grand Prix Season 1976” by David Benson. 143 pp. 7 1/2 in. x 5 in. Paperback. (Beaverbrook Newspapers Ltd., Standard House, 56, Farringdon Street, London, EC4A 4DY. 80p.)

This illustrated paperback by the Chairman of the Guild of Motoring Writers gives a detailed account of how Niki Lauda and James Hunt battled throughout the 1976 Grand Prix season for the World Drivers’ Championship, and also, let us not forget, for Ferrari and McLaren honour. It is David Benson’s personal account of that mercurial season. Naturally, as he works for the Daily Express, he writes in the journalese of Fleet Street. This makes this little paperback, written in a matter of days, easy to read, if you like that style—-“The willowy brunette wandered aimlessly round the dusty Belgian paddock where oil-spattered mechanics were busy working on the sophisticated Grand Prix racing machines. Her jeans hugged her slender figure and the thick leather belt nipped into a 22 in. wasp waist. The face with its burning pale blue eyes was vaguely familiar but I could not place it”, is how Benson describes Maria-Helena, Emerson Fittipaldi’s wife, in this little, incident-packed book which he dedicates to the women in his life. If you like this kind of report you will find Benson’s little volume good value, at 80p, which includes a few pictures and a chart of 1976 Championship points. If you prefer technical reporting you no doubt read D.S.J., from the other Standard House. Benson saw them all, our Continental Correspondent nearly all of these dramatic Grand Prix races. Take your choice!.—W.B.