fbpx

Bare-chested

13. Apr 2021 
by Ziv Knoll
4376 views

It was hot (21°c) and sunny at the 1976 US Grand Prix West held at Long Beach, California. Great friends and rivals, Niki Lauda and James Hunt do not hesitate to stroll down the pitlane, relax and bare-chested, minutes before the start.

The race was the third round of the 1976 Formula One season, and few suspected at this point that the championship would evolve into an epic battle between these two great drivers. Niki Lauda (Ferrari) had won the two first Grand Prix of the season and was leading the championship with 18 points, with six points only for Hunt (McLaren).

In the race, things worsened for the fiery Brit when on lap 4, he tried to slip inside the Tyrrell of Depailler for second place, but the two collided when the Frenchman closed the door. The race was over for Hunt.

Clay Regazzoni took an easy win (picture below), the fourth of his career, completing the Grand Chelem of pole position, fastest lap, victory and leading every lap. Niki Lauda brought his car home in second position, thus further stretching his championship lead. All looked good at this point for the Austrian.

Many years later, Lauda declared with his dry sense of humour: “In 1976, I was easily leading the championship until I burned my ear” (at the Nürburgring).

Source: DR

Leave a comment