Hunt, born in Belmont, debuted in Formula One with the colourful Hesketh team in 1973, scoring several remarkable results, including a second place at the US Grand Prix. His first win came in 1975, in the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. He finished 4th in the championship that year, and signed with McLaren for the next season.
1976 was Hunt's top year, as he won six Grand Prix. A seventh win at the British Grand Prix was disallowed as he used his spare car in at the race's restart. Still, this was enough to beat Ferrari's Niki Lauda to the title, after the Austrian withdrew from the season's final race due to the wet conditions.
The following season started unlucky for Hunt, although he eventually won three GPs and placed 5th in the Championship. But in 1978, he hardly scored any points, and then moved to Wolf for what would be his last Formula One season.
Hunt later became a tv commentator, and died at the age of 45 of a heart attack.