With all the buzz in the universe this weekend seemingly centered on actor Brad Pitt‘s most-recent release – F1: The Movie – well, we thought let’s do a Formula 1 Fan Teaser.
Voila!
Pictured this week are drivers, Niki Lauda (left) and James Hunt. The two battled until the final race of the 1976 season – the Japanese Grand Prix – for the World Drivers’ Championship. Not only was the season title on the line, it was also the first-ever F1 race in Japan.
Lauda led Hunt for the drivers’ title by a scant three points entering the race.
And, then, the skies opened and rain fell at near Biblical proportions. It was so torrential that there was some question as to whether the race would be conducted but ultimately, after some driver consent, the decision was made to move forward.
Three notable drivers decided to withdraw rather than risk an accident: Emerson Fittapaldi, Carlos Pace, Larry Perkins, and Lauda.
“…my life is worth more than a title.”
Niki Lauda after withdrawing from the 1976 Japanese Grand Priz
Lauda ran two laps before leaving the Fuji Speedway circuit and casting his title hopes to the fates. He cited, as his rationale, the horrific accident that pinned him in his burning car at the German Grand Prix a couple months earlier, left him a coma, and the recipient of last rites.
The fresh facial burns he sustained during the German crash (footage of Lauda’s crash on the famed Nurburgring can be seen here) are visible on his face in the photo with Hunt.
Hunt went on to finish third in Japan (behind Mario Andretti and Patrick Depailler) which provided him enough driver points to move past Lauda by a single point for the 1976 Drivers’ Championship.
Lauda won the championship in 1975, 1977, and again in 1984. The 1976 title the only one of Hunt’s career.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.