#jameshunt #f1championship #f1legends
Hunt, born in Belmont, Surrey, attended Westerleigh Preparatory School and later Wellington College. His interest in driving began on a farm in Wales during a family holiday, where he learned to drive a tractor. He struggled with changing gears due to his lack of strength. Hunt obtained his driver's license at seventeen and considered it the start of his life. He also took up skiing in 1965 and became fascinated with motor racing after attending a race at Silverstone with his tennis partner's family.
Hunt began his racing career in a Mini and attempted his first race at Snetterton Circuit, but scrutineers disqualified him due to irregularities with the car. This left Hunt and his teammate, Justin Fry, disappointed. Hunt secured funding by working as a trainee manager at a telephone company and entered three races. However, Fry decided to leave the team due to disagreements over car modifications and irregularities. In 1968, Hunt moved up to Formula Ford, driving a Russell-Alexis Mark 14 car purchased via a hire-purchase scheme. Despite facing a setback with an incorrect engine ignition setting, which cost him 15 hp, he finished fifth in his debut race at Snetterton. He achieved his first victory at Lydden Hill and also set the lap record on the Brands Hatch short circuit.