Unique & Limited Gallery, which we recently profiled, just released an outstanding new work that recreates the scene as legendary F1 driver James Hunt won the world drivers’ championship at Fuji Speedway on 24 October 1976.

Nearly 40 years ago, Hunt and long-time friend and rival Niki Lauda arrived at Fuji, locked in a battle for the championship during the most controversial and heroic season in Grand Prix history. Throughout that year, James Hunt had experienced extreme ups and downs. He had recently regained his confidence with the reinstating of his points lost through disqualification during the Spanish Grand Prix. Rival Lauda had returned from near death in Germany to continue the fight Hunt down to the wire. It would all be decided at Fuji.

On race day, Mario Andretti sat in pole position, with Hunt starting second and Lauda in third. Due to the dense fog and rain that day, many drivers had questioned racing in such severe weather, including Hunt himself, but despite the protests, the race went on as scheduled and Hunt took the lead from the start. After one lap, Lauda retired from the race. His Nurburgring accident had left his eyes unable to focus clearly in the rain, and he refused to endanger himself further.

Although it appeared that Hunt would take an easy win, the situation changed as the track dried and he began to lose positions due to his rain tyres’ wear. Hunt finally pitted with punctures in both a front and a rear tire. With the long frantic pit stop and confused team communications, Hunt returned to the track not knowing his race position. His only course was to overtake as many cars as possible, and in the dizzying final laps he successfully fought his way up to third place and won enough points for the title of Champion.

In the production of this artwork, Unique & Limited not only undertook the complicated processes of in-depth research, concept sketches, photography, 3D model creating and post production but went one incredible step further. They incorporated James Hunt’s son – Freddie Hunt to pose as his father for the photographic images to more precisely recreate the iconic look of one of the most charismatic and talented drivers in Grand Prix history.