The broad-brushstrokes generalisation of 1976 is that this was the year when motor sport moved from the back pages of the newspapers to the front. But, in reality, it had merited only the briefest of mentions in the sports coverage, far below the football, cricket and rugby. It’s 50 years since James Hunt and Barry Sheene – champions at the pinnacle of four and two-wheeled racing respectively – smashed through a ceiling, their fame refracting upon the sport, putting it at the front and back of the popular press. It was the success, the love lives, high jinks and controversy that did it. Here’s how an incredible year unfolded.
James Hunt and Barry Sheene, championship-deciding Japanese GP, 1976
Getty Images
December 10,1975
Marlboro and McLaren confirm their signing of James Hunt to replace Emerson Fittipaldi. Hunt has also held talks with Lotus: “They seemed to be of the opinion that their drivers shouldn’t be paid. They didn’t even buy me lunch.” Hunt’s 40-a-day habit is no problem for Marlboro, but his refusal to sign a contract that stipulates blazer-wearing at official functions nearly scuppers the deal, until the company’s John Hogan – a friend of Hunt’s – says that he will not enforce this.
December 11,1975
Hunt turns his first laps at the wheel of a McLaren M23 at Silverstone. Just a few, due to fog. Another test is similarly hampered. Hunt spends Christmas and New Year in Gstaad with his estranged wife Suzy and some friends. He then returns to his tax-exiled home in Spain, happy to leave Mrs H in Switzerland, where she meets Richard Burton…
Daily Mirror photo shoot, January 1976
January 16,1976
Barry Sheene’s first big national story of the year appears in the Daily Mirror: “Barry Sheene, the Cockney genius of the superbike circuits, has had a rough old year, with several disastrous smashes. But with a new season ahead and a new Suzuki to ride, there’s only one thing for a whiz-kid to do: grin and bear it!” The 25-year-old, whose dad is a two-stroke engine specialist, has played a big part in the Suzuki RG500’s development, including months in Japan over the winter, which he describes as “the hardest of my life”.
January 24,1976
Pole position at Interlagos on Hunt’s McLaren debut. He’s too tall for the cockpit, so on Friday night modifications are made, and he responds in style. The following day, a loose engine inlet trumpet slows him in the Brazilian Grand Prix, then a sticking throttle causes a spin into the fence, damaging the oil cooler and forcing him out.
February 24,1976
Hunt takes to the track at Kyalami for the second day of pre-South African Grand Prix testing. Off track, he is having a ‘good time’ with a South African actress, before a quick pitstop at the hotel means a Portuguese ex-army lieutenant is hanging off his arm.
Hunt with female company, Kyalami, ’76
LAT Images
March 6,1976
Another pole for Hunt, but he drops to fourth at the start at Kyalami. After an early battle with Tyrrell’s Patrick Depailler and Vittorio Brambilla in a March 761, he sets off after the Ferrari of race leader Niki Lauda. The 312T slows late on with a left-rear puncture, but Lauda holds on to defeat Hunt and take his second win of the season. The Austrian is 12 points clear at the top of the driver standings.
March 7,1976
Over in the US, Sheene contests the opening round of the Formula 750 world championship, the Daytona 200, on Suzuki’s ageing and uncompetitive 750cc triple. It’s exactly one year after he nearly died at Daytona when his 750’s rear tyre exploded at 175mph. American superbike star Steve McLaughlin remembers: “I visited Barry in hospital, and looking through the little window before I went in I could see him with both legs and one arm elevated, and he was with a nurse. He signalled to me with his free hand – ‘give me a couple more minutes’.” A year later he’s still in agony; he qualifies 13th, before his drive chain snaps in the race.
March 14,1976
It’s the Race of Champions at Brands Hatch. Hunt, who arrives at the track with a Swedish model, emerges from the early battling on a slippery track in second place, but has to work hard to pass the surprising Surtees of Alan Jones for his first win for McLaren. “He really was driving magnificently,” says Hunt. “I was getting worried.”
March 21,1976
Sheene qualifies second for the Formula 750 round at San Carlos in Venezuela, but his conrod breaks in the race.
March 28,1976
An early collision with Depailler at Long Beach puts Hunt out of the US GP West. He stands by the track for a few laps to wave his fist at the Frenchman, then, two hours later, livens up the post-race press conference with a tirade against the sheepish Frenchman. Meanwhile, a mechanic drives the McLaren, which is only cosmetically damaged, back to the pits.
April 4,1976
It’s another Formula 750 event for Sheene. This time he finishes third at Imola.
April 11,1976
A dominant win in the International Trophy at Silverstone for Hunt, after early pressure from Brambilla fades. He returns to Spain, and wife Suzy flies out to join him for coffee in Málaga. Here they realise that there is no prospect of reconciliation. Hunt goes to a Marbella nightclub, jumps fully clothed into a swimming pool, and gets into an altercation with the doorman when he tries to return.
Sheene had a horror accident in the 1975 Daytona 200
Sutton
April 16-19,1976
After Hunt’s two wins in the UK’s non-championship F1 races, it’s Sheene’s turn to star at home over the Easter weekend. The Transatlantic is a series of match races between UK and US riders, with two races per round at Brands, Mallory Park and Oulton Park. “Grands prix are an utter financial disaster,” said Sheene, who lost money at every GP he contested. “Someone’s making a lot of money out of them and it’s definitely not the riders.” Not so away from the GP scene… “Barry was getting ten grand in brown paper envelopes at British meetings,” remembers his best mate and future team-mate Steve Parrish. At Brands on Good Friday, Sheene is second and third (he also wins the Motor Cycle News Superbike and ShellSport races). At Mallory on Easter Sunday, he takes a win and a third (plus ShellSport victory). At Oulton on Easter Monday, he has a third and a crash (plus another ShellSport triumph).
April 23,1976
McLaren joins the pre-Spanish GP test at Jarama. Hunt is joint quickest with Depailler, who is preparing to give the six-wheeled Tyrrell P34 its debut.
April 25,1976
It’s the first 500cc World Championship round, the French GP at Le Mans. Sheene wins from Yamaha rider Johnny Cecotto and Suzuki privateer Marco Lucchinelli. The start/finish is uphill, and GP starts are with dead engines, so Sheene – still recovering from his Daytona crash – requests a pusher, starting from the back of the grid. He is refused. This is the first race that new girlfriend Stephanie attends…
F1 non-championship victory in April for Hunt – the BRDC International Trophy
April 28,1976
…The Sun front page headline: Race ace stole my wife – Page 3 girl Stephanie in love triangle. McLean is married to fashion photographer Clive McLean. “Barry liked the women,” said American champion Gary Nixon, one of Sheene’s best mates. “He slept with 186 different chicks in one year, plus he lived with a good-looking one.”
May 2,1976
Hunt passes Lauda shortly before half-distance to win the Spanish GP. He is parched after the race and is handed an orange juice. This is clumsily knocked out of his hands by a local, whom Hunt punches: “I felt awful about it afterwards and tried to find him to apologise.” Controversy erupts after the race, the first to be held to new regulations on car dimensions. The McLaren is measured at 216.8cm width when the maximum is 215cm. Hunt is excluded, and team boss Teddy Mayer fumes: “We feel we have been given a death sentence for a parking ticket.” Over at Salzburgring for the Austrian 500cc GP, reporters besiege Sheene for his response to The Sun story. Things are more serene on track, where he takes victory from Lucchinelli and twice-world-champion British veteran Phil Read.
Sheene representing the UK in the Transatlantic Trophy, Mallory Park
LAT
May 5,1976
A tribunal of the Spanish federation rejects McLaren’s appeal. The team is not allowed to present its case, so now asks the RAC to take the matter to the FIA.
May 9,1976
Sheene takes a win at Cadwell Park in the MCN Superbike championship.
May 16,1976
Hunt’s Belgian GP weekend unravels after lapping Zolder quickest in the first qualifying session. He ends up third on the grid, collides with Jacques Laffite in the race, proves a roadblock to Jody Scheckter, and finally retires with a seized gearbox. Things are going rather better for Sheene at the Italian 500cc GP. He makes it three out of three with victory over Read at Mugello, although two riders lose their lives at the meeting.
A win for Hunt in Spain… eventually
DPPI
May 30,1976
Another forgettable race for Hunt. Lack of grip plus gearbox problems restrict him to 14th on the grid for the Monaco GP. He spins down to last at Tabac on the eighth lap, before engine failure puts him out of his misery. The following day, Sheene is fourth at Brands in the MCN Superbike round, and second to Read in the King of Brands race.
June 4,1976
Things look up for Hunt in a test at Swedish GP venue Anderstorp, where he is quickest from John Watson’s Penske. Stories also emerge that he is to tackle the Tour of Britain with popular bearded TV and radio presenter Noel Edmonds in a Vauxhall Magnum backed by BBC Radio 1.
Hunt and Noel Edmonds were a Magnum force
Shutterstock
June 6,1976
The non-championship 500cc race on the Chimay road course in Belgium, see Great Lost Circuits, pays very, very well. Sheene wins it from Read and Lucchinelli.
June 13,1976
Testing proves to be a red herring. Hunt’s McLaren is uncompetitive at Anderstorp, but he battles oversteer to hold off Clay Regazzoni and Ronnie Peterson for a fine fifth. It is one of his best performances of the season, and the two points won will later prove crucial… Sheene takes another MCN Superbike triumph, this time at Mallory.
June 25,1976
More testing for Hunt, this time at French GP venue Paul Ricard. He is second behind the Brabham of Carlos Pace, despite engine failure.
Sheene was first in five out of six 500cc grands prix
June 26,1976
Sheene is back on 500cc world championship duty for the Dutch TT at Assen. All the leading runners have skipped the UK’s round a fortnight earlier – the infamous Isle of Man TT. Sheene wins again, from Suzuki privateers Pat Hennen and Wil Hartog. In the long, hot summer of 1976, it’s 37°C here.
July 4,1976
McLaren has been all at sea since Hunt’s Spanish GP exclusion, after tweaks to the M23’s oil cooler, rear wing and wheelbase to make sure it conforms to the regulations. But aero changes in time for the French GP have the desired effect. Hunt claims pole at Paul Ricard. He is beaten away by Lauda but the Ferrari is soon trailing fluid, and retires on lap nine. Hunt wins from Depailler despite feeling sick – a malaise attributed to overdoing the pâté de foie gras on the Friday night. In Belgium, Sheene is second at Spa in the 500cc GP behind Suzuki team-mate John Williams. He makes his only good start of the year because the start/finish is downhill, and leads the race before he suffers fuel vaporisation in the heat.
July 5,1976
Two wins in two days for Hunt! An FIA tribunal, comprising five international jurors including a major-general from the Finnish army, overturns his Spanish GP exclusion and substitutes a £1600 fine.
Hunt gets to know the locals at the US Grand Prix West in 1976; his smile vanished in the race when Patrick Depailler pushed his car into the barrier
Alvis Upitis/Getty Images
July 9,1976
Disaster for Hunt on the Tour of Britain… Stories include an unruly battle on the road with the non-competing Rolls-Royce of Lord Hesketh, V-signs brandished to cheery motorists waving at the Radio 1 Vauxhall, a crash into a tree on a Norfolk stage, and a run-in with the police for speeding. Hunt and Edmonds arrive for the Cadwell Park race with the fuzz on their tail, and quick-witted team-mate Jimmy McRae manoeuvres his Magnum to block in the constabulary. Edmonds implores Hunt to continue for the sake of his radio listeners, but the police’s insistence that the lights on the much-abused Vauxhall are repaired means they can’t get to the next stage on time, and withdraw.
July 11,1976
Just two days after Hunt races the Magnum at Snetterton, Sheene is at the Norfolk track to win the ShellSport 500 round, but crashes out of the Race of Aces when the front brake pads fall out. He is treated in the ambulance, and badly battered. “I hurtled into the banking and went end over end – sheer luck prevented it from being a bloody major spill.”
Clay Regazzoni spins at the start of the Brands Hatch ’76 British GP, and is hit by Hunt (No11)
LAT Images
July 13,1976
After the chaos… Hunt appears at the Kent County Show to present the prizes for a children’s safety competition. He has been staying with his parents: “I realised I had been living my life up to the red line and I had drained myself completely.” He also performs an unexpectedly competent turn on the trumpet as part of the Grand Prix Night of the Stars at the Albert Hall.
July 18,1976
Hunt is caught up with the spinning Ferraris at the first corner of the British GP at Brands Hatch, is pitched into the air and lands his McLaren with a hefty thump. Trigger-happy RAC officials red-flag the race, causing a massive rumpus as to whether Hunt will be allowed to take the restart. While beer cans and crisp packets rain down on the Brands track from the disgruntled and sunbaked crowd, McLaren’s mechanics work miracles to repair Hunt’s car. Poleman Lauda leads the restart for 44 laps, but the Ferrari’s gearbox has begun playing up and Hunt passes, pulling away to win by 42sec. Ferrari appeals the result, saying Hunt should not have taken the restart. Hunt doesn’t care; he’s celebrating with chums, who have brought plenty of beer. Sheene is here too to cheer his pal on.
Sheene and girlfriend Stephanie McLean in support of Hunt at the British GP. Hunt won but would be disqualified
Mirrorpix via Getty Images
July 22,1976
McLaren’s new M26 – raced just once in 1976, by Jochen Mass at Zandvoort – is tested by Hunt at Silverstone. His right thumb is in pain and, on his return to Spain, a specialist diagnoses torn ligaments from the Brands bump. Meanwhile, Mayer confirms an intriguing plan for Hunt to contest the Ontario 500 IndyCar race in early September in a second Cosworth DFX-powered M24 alongside McLaren team leader Johnny Rutherford.
July 25,1976
Sheene wins the Swedish GP at Anderstorp from Jack Findlay and Chas Mortimer to secure the 500cc world title, and his entourage celebrates at a local hotel: “We drank our way through 30 bottles of champagne – and at Swedish prices of £14 a bottle [that’s around £95 in today’s money!].” There is no need for him to contest the final rounds in Finland, Czechoslovakia and Germany, which take place on the high-risk Imatra, Brno and Nürburgring circuits.
Sheene, Suzuki RG500 and a cigarette – with British racer Paul Smart; Barry’s sister Maggie married Smart
Grand Prix Photo
August 1,1976
The day Lauda nearly dies, when fire engulfs his Ferrari after crashing out of the German GP at the Nürburgring. The subsequent red flag robs Hunt’s McLaren team-mate Mass – due to being the only driver to correctly choose slick tyres for the drying track, he was holding a huge lead. Hunt blitzes the restart to lead home the Tyrrell of Scheckter.
August 5,1976
The day after RAC stewards reject his appeal over the British GP result, Enzo Ferrari withdraws his team from F1. He cites discontent over this, and the overturning of Hunt’s Spanish GP exclusion – the latter point has been roundly condemned, even in the British media. “Unless there is a return to the spirit of the sport’s law, I do not feel like going ahead,” grumbles the Old Man.
Another win for Hunt, this time at Zandvoort, and the Brit moves to within two points of Lauda
August 8,1976
Sheene is back at Brands for an MCN Superbike race, which he wins.
August 15,1976
No Ferrari or Lauda at the Austrian GP, but the Österreichring race is a classic. Hunt damages a front fin when he takes to the mud at Hella-Licht avoiding Scheckter’s crash after the Tyrrell suffers suspension failure. He then tweaks the other while lapping Harald Ertl. But he finishes fourth, on the tail of Laffite and Gunnar Nilsson, as Watson steers his Penske to a popular win. Sheene is in action at Silverstone at the 750cc British GP meeting, where he is second to American Steve Baker: “It couldn’t be said Steve outrode me – his Yamaha was just far superior to my Suzuki.”
August 17,1976
It is confirmed that Hunt will drive an Ecurie CanadaMarch in the Formula Atlantic race at the Trois-Rivières street circuit; the same date as the Ontario 500 he was slated to contest. His team-mate will be Canada’s most exciting young talent, Gilles Villeneuve.
Hunt, Jarama
Sutton
August 21,1976
Suzy Hunt and Richard Burton are married in Arlington, Virginia, two months after they received their respective divorces in Haiti from James, and Elizabeth Taylor.
“Grands prix are an utter financial disaster. Someone’s making money. It’s not the riders”
August 23,1976
Enzo Ferrari U-turns on his decision to quit F1, and a single car will be run for Clay Regazzoni in the upcoming Dutch GP. He requests that the FIA re-examines the Spanish and British GP cases.
August 27,1976
At the Earl’s Court Motorbike Show in London, Sheene collects a Suzuki GS750 road bike, the company’s first four-stroke. Two-strokes are being legislated off the road by emissions laws.
Sheene at the Powerbike International, Brands Hatch, October – he has been 500cc world champion for three months
LAT Images
August 29,1976
Zandvoort hosts another thriller of a GP. Hunt is third early on, but benefits when Watson runs wide at Tarzan while trying to pass Ronnie Peterson’s leading March. They each divebomb the Swede on lap 13, and Watson spends the next 35 tours stuck behind Hunt, whose McLaren is understeering due to a loose front brake scoop. Gearbox failure for Watson is but a temporary reprieve for Hunt, because he has Regazzoni and Mario Andretti breathing down his neck at the finish. It’s Hunt’s birthday, and his mum Sue, younger brother David and a cake are in attendance. All are involved in a drunken campfire singalong in the dunes well into the night. The following day, Sheene is third at Oulton in the latest MCN Superbike round.
September 5,1976
On his first outing in FAtlantic, Hunt passes Patrick Tambay, Bobby Rahal and Brambilla (deranging his nose on the Italian’s car) to finish third at Trois-Rivières. The dominant winner is Villeneuve, and Hunt returns raving about the Québécois’s talents to Marlboro and McLaren… Sheene is at a rather different venue: the scary Scarborough parkland road course. He is fourth in the MCN Superbike round. A second successive win for Kawasaki rider Mick Grant means he closes on Sheene.
Third place at Fuji was enough to land Hunt the world championship
September 12,1976
Lauda’s miraculous return to the cockpit at Monza, but the Italian GP weekend is soured when scrutineers exclude Hunt, Mass and Watson from qualifying because their fuel exceeds the maximum octane rating. Each scrapes onto the grid due to others withdrawing. Hunt is up to 12th by lap 11 when he skates off at the second chicane while battling Tom Pryce’s Shadow and gets stuck in the sand. He is spat at and jeered by the crowd as he stalks back to the pits. Sheene is at Mallory for another MCN Superbike triumph; he’s second to Baker in the Race of the Year.
September 18,1976
Hunt competes in the IROC race at the Michigan superspeedway. He takes pole among a field of identical Chevrolet Camaros, but a roughing-up from Johnny Rutherford, David Pearson and Gordon Johncock causes him to crash out on lap eight: “To tell you the truth I was scared shitless.” The following day, Sheene scores maximum points at Cadwell in the latest MCN Superbike round.
To Michigan for Hunt, third from left, for an IROC race in Chevrolet Camaros; he took pole position
September 24,1976
McLaren is already testing at Mosport for the upcoming Canadian GP when news arrives that the FIA Court of Appeal has accepted Ferrari’s case and excluded Hunt from the Brands Hatch race, on the grounds that his car was being pushed by mechanics at the time of the red flag. Hunt is now 17 points behind Lauda with just three races left.
October 2,1976
Hunt beats Peterson to pole for the Canadian GP. The McLaren man has gone “quite lunatic” since his Brands exclusion, in the words of team manager Alastair Caldwell, who is quoted in Gerald Donaldson’s James Hunt – The Biography (1995): “He proceeded to drink whatever was at hand and poke anything that would stand still or lie down long enough.” The night before the race, Hunt takes a shine to the singer of a band that is performing in the team’s motel. Between sets, he and the chanteuse ‘relax’ together in his room; while she performs, he is downing beer – till 2am.
James Hunt and a Hesketh in Holland. It all aligned 50 years ago when the future world champion pulled off one of F1’s most unlikely wins at Zandvoort, as Matt Bishop recounts
By
Matt Bishop
October 3,1976
Peterson wins the start, but Hunt shrugs off his hangover to pass him on lap nine. He then has a fired-up Depailler to fend off, the six-wheeled Tyrrell frequently right on the McLaren’s tail before a broken fuel pump sprays fuel in the Frenchman’s face. He plugs on to finish second behind Hunt, who is now just eight points behind the non-scoring Lauda.
October 10,1976
After a test on the Wednesday, Hunt tops the only dry(ish) qualifying session at Watkins Glen to claim pole for the United States GP. Snow falls on Saturday night but the track is dry – if cold – for the race. Lauda, with whom Hunt has had a brief falling-out in Canada, is staying in an adjoining room. He wakes his old friend up at 7am while sporting full racegear and proclaims: “Today I win ze championship!” Scheckter beats Hunt away and the Tyrrell is in command. But Hunt reels the South African in and takes the lead on lap 37. Four laps later he gets boxed in behind a backmarker at the chicane and Scheckter is back in front. Hunt reclaims the advantage with 13 laps to go for victory. Lauda is third, but is now just three points ahead. McLaren sends an M23 straight to Fuji for testing prior to the Japanese GP; Ferrari is outraged, claiming this goes against a written agreement signed at Mosport.
Sheene wrapped up the 500cc title with three races still to go
October 17,1976
It’s a week before the Japanese GP, and Sheene is with Hunt in Tokyo, shortly after they have attended the International Motor Show at the Birmingham NEC together. To Hunt’s delight, their hotel is also used by British Airways flight crew, which means a new batch of stewardesses every day. “We had the same daft kind of mentality then,” said Sheene in the Donaldson biography. “We were both sportsmen and we both drank and smoked and chased women, went to places you shouldn’t go and did things you shouldn’t do.”
“Lauda wakes Hunt up at 7am in full racegear and proclaims: ‘Today I win ze championship!’”
October 24,1976
Heavy rain delays the start of the Japanese GP, for which Hunt has qualified second, one place behind the Lotus of Andretti; one ahead of Lauda. Hunt accesses his car by wooden planks laid by the McLaren mechanics across the track torrent: “I’m not going to race. I’m just going to drive around.” Lauda doesn’t even do that, pulling in to retire after two slow laps. An inspired Hunt splashes away in front but, after the rain stops and the track begins to dry, he is killing his tyres. Eleven laps to go: Depailler and Andretti pass him, but third is OK – with Lauda out, any place in the top four will suffice. Eight laps to go: one of Depailler’s six tyres bursts and Hunt is now second. Five laps to go: Hunt’s left-front shreds, but it’s just before the pit entry and he dives in for new rubber. Now he’s fifth. Penultimate lap: Regazzoni and Jones, each with tyre problems of their own, are simultaneously passed by the McLaren. Hunt is third. He’s done it.
October 26,1976
Hunt arrives at Heathrow to a hero’s welcome. The flight from Tokyo has included a stopover in Anchorage and, apart from two hours of sleep, Hunt has been drinking and leading the party. JAL offers him first class but he wants to stay in economy with his friends – other than trips to the ‘posh’ bar.
Hunt judging Miss World
October 30-31,1976
Sheene wins the final rounds of the MCN Superbike and ShellSport 500 series at Brands to put both championships to bed, and add to his 500cc world title glory. He is fourth in the Powerbike International race.
November 7,1976
Hunt appears at the Tribute to James meeting at Brands Hatch, with the magnanimous Lauda also joining in festivities – plus Sheene.
November/December1976
The week after Tribute to James, Hunt’s appearance on the BBC’s popular Superstars programme is aired. He’s last in the 100m, but his runner-up performances in the cycling and 600m steeplechase propel him to third behind hurdler David Hemery and boxer John Conteh. It’s undocumented whether hellraising QPR midfielder and fellow contestant Stan Bowles is a drinking partner once the Aldershot track-and-field exertions are done… The rest of the year is a blur. As a favour to Lauda, Hunt goes to Austria to open the Jochen Rindt Show – an annual motor exhibition – in Linz. He arrives at the hoity-toity BRDC dinner with jeans, sandals, open-necked shirt and French model, and staggers into a touring car driver, smashing his gin glass and cutting his eyebrow; he then steps back and tramples on the spectacles belonging to the tin-top man’s lawyer. Hunt and Sheene attend the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year; the new F1 champion is runner-up to Olympic figure skating gold medallist John Curry. And, naturally, Hunt is a judge of Miss World. Is Lando Norris taking notes?
