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Narrator: Twenty-five cars line
up to start the last Grand Prix
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of the most extraordinary season
of the history of Formula One.
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00:00:14,448 --> 00:00:17,685
Announcer: This is the
clincher, the world championship
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00:00:17,718 --> 00:00:18,952
decider of the climax...
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00:00:18,986 --> 00:00:22,290
Narrator: As heavy rain pours
down, two drivers prepare for
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the race that will decide
which one of them
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becomes world champion.
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Announcer: James Hunt in the
McLaren, Niki Lauda in the
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Ferrari. The flag is
down, they're off!
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00:00:34,202 --> 00:00:37,271
Narrator: The two men could not
be more different.
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Britain's James Hunt is a fast,
flamboyant showman who parties
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as hard as he races.
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James is the driver of all time.
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The gentleman driver, the
flamboyant, that has the nature
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of talent to go fast in a car.
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Tell us what happened.
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There's a race going on, dear
boy.
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Narrator: His rival is the
steamy Austrian, Niki Lauda, who
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drives with cold, hard logic.
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Niki was the scientist, the
counterpoint, he was the
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ultimate, the first, really,
really technical driver.
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Announcer: This is the story of
Formula One's legendary battle,
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told by those who witnessed it
firsthand.
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James got out of the car,
pulled off his crash helmet,
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started to rant and rave at
them.
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They are no friends.
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Basically, they are trying to
win, and friendship is not the
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case.
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Announcer: Now, wheel to wheel.
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The tension was just amazing.
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They all think they're the
quickest.
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They can't imagine that they're
not the fastest racing driver in
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the world.
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His face was in a mask of
blood, and you think, my god,
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how can he race.
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Narrator: With previously unseen
footage and exclusive
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interviews, this film charts the
epic duel that changed
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the lives of both men, and the
sport, forever.
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You couldn't make it up.
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You could not make up the
season, it was just
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unbelievable.
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Event Announcer: This is going
to be a fantastic race!
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Narrator: Fans line the streets
to see Austrian Niki Lauda
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crowned world champion of 1975.
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Lauda drives a Ferrari, the
greatest racing car constructor
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in the world.
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But Lauda's thoughts and those
of his team are already turning
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to next season.
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Ferrari's team manager, Daniele
Audetto, is confident that Lauda
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will retain his crown in 1976.
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Niki Lauda was a very
professional driver.
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He can see the strategy, he can
really understand when was the
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moment to push a little bit
more, a little bit less, and was
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very fast, extremely fast and so
consistent.
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Narrator: But in Britain, a new
challenger has emerged.
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James Hunt has signed for the
British team McLaren.
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Hunt is better known for his
romantic exploits
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than his driving.
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McLaren team manager, Alastair
Caldwell had his reservations
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about Hunt joining the team.
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The '76 season got off to a
very interesting start for us.
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James didn't even have a drive
and we didn't have a driver, so
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we were thrown into bed with
him.
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He rang me up and said, I think
I'm your new driver, and I said,
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I guess you are.
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One of the first things we
noticed that when the car was
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switched off on the grid, he was
so wound up, the whole car was
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shaking with his nervous energy.
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He was always competitive, and
always very focused on something
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00:04:16,123 --> 00:04:20,461
he wanted to do, be it
budgerigars as a teenager, or
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00:04:20,494 --> 00:04:24,298
train sets or scalex tricks or
something, as a small boy.
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James was a sportsman, through
and through.
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He never played team games, his
sports were all solitary, and he
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was very single-minded, and he
knew what he wanted, he wanted
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to be world champion.
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Narrator: The 1976 season
consisted of 16 races over 10
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months, running from January
to October at locations
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across the world.
Ferrari and McLaren were
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the leading contenders.
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00:04:51,291 --> 00:04:55,996
Ferrari are my arch enemies,
Daniele Audetto was their team
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manager, so I was at war
with him.
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Ferrari is easily much bigger,
much longer than McLaren.
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We could compete with them on
money, but we could compete with
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them on style, and we can
compete with them in efficiency.
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They were a lot bigger team, and
they were incredibly Italian.
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I think we respect each other
professionally, but I don't have
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a beer with him in the pub, if
you want an example.
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Race one is in the scorching
heat of the Interlagos Circuit
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in Brazil.
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In the thick of the action is
pit lane reporter, Peter
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Windsor.
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In the distance, you'd hear an
engine note and four minutes
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later, the car would reach you
and all four wheels would be off
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the ground, and you'd think,
wow, this is Formula One.
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Narrator: Lauda has seen off
Hunt's challenge, he collects
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nine points to start
building his score.
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Point scoring system was
disarmingly simple.
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Nine points for a win, six for
second, four for third, down to
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sixth place where you got one
point.
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00:06:08,168 --> 00:06:11,171
We didn't know it was gonna
become so complicated.
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Narrator: Lauda knows how to get
the best out of his team.
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Niki Lauda had really learned
how to make Ferrari
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work for him.
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An awful lot of drivers, very
good drivers, went to Ferrari
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and never quite made it work.
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It had a terrifying presence of
Enzo Ferrari, with his dark
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glasses, looming over the whole
thing.
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Narrator: After nearly five
decades in motor racing, the
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78-year-old Enzo Ferrari
rules his family business
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with an iron fist.
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If you win with them,
Ferrari's Ferrari.
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A completely different ball game
than all the British teams of
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the time.
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When you lose, you get a lot of
pressure.
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00:06:55,282 --> 00:06:59,487
So, in Ferrari, you always had
the winning and staying or
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00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:02,022
losing and losing the job.
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00:07:05,759 --> 00:07:08,696
Narrator: And Lauda delivers,
pulling further and further and
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further ahead of Hunt
with every race.
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00:07:12,099 --> 00:07:15,736
But at the fourth round at
Spain, Lauda has worrying news
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for Audetto.
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Daniele, you have a problem.
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What happened?
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00:07:20,307 --> 00:07:26,880
I fell out from my tractor in my
house in my garden, and I broke
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00:07:26,914 --> 00:07:28,248
two or three ribs.
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00:07:28,281 --> 00:07:30,183
I said, my god, two or three
ribs?
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James had this approach to it
all which was well, he's no
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problem, halfway through the
race, his ribs are gonna give up
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00:07:38,025 --> 00:07:39,493
and I'll pass him and win the
race.
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That's exactly what happened.
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His first win for McLaren.
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00:07:50,538 --> 00:07:52,540
You're still extremely fast,
how do you do it?
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Big balls.
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00:07:58,211 --> 00:08:01,181
Narrator: But Hunt's victory is
short-lived.
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00:08:01,214 --> 00:08:04,051
In the scrutiniring area
afterwards, there was this
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00:08:04,084 --> 00:08:09,723
unheard of situation, really,
where the car was disqualified,
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00:08:09,757 --> 00:08:12,926
and that was something that
nobody in Formula One was really
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prepared for.
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00:08:17,364 --> 00:08:20,267
Narrator: Teams were allowed to
modify thier car to suit each
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circuit, but they must work
within strict regulations.
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00:08:23,236 --> 00:08:28,041
One centimeter in a Formula
One car makes such a
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big difference.
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00:08:31,044 --> 00:08:33,289
Narrator: In Spain, Hunt's car
had been found to be just over
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a centimeter too wide.
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00:08:36,584 --> 00:08:39,019
Before the race, the car was
measured by the organizers, and
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every day, they didn't say
anything.
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00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:43,156
And I'm pretty sure they were
talking to Ferrari because there
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00:08:43,190 --> 00:08:45,201
was a bit of a kindred spirit
there, the Spanish-speaking,
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Catholic country and the Ferrari
was saying shh, don't, keep it,
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say nothing.
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00:08:52,065 --> 00:08:57,004
I was never involved with the
scrutiniring, I was involved
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00:08:57,037 --> 00:09:00,140
with my scrutiniring with my
cars that they weren't, that my
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00:09:00,173 --> 00:09:04,311
car respect under the same
rules, otherwise Ferrari
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00:09:04,344 --> 00:09:06,046
kill me.
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00:09:06,079 --> 00:09:08,191
Narrator: Hunt's points are
given to Lauda, and it looks
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00:09:08,215 --> 00:09:10,951
like McLaren will leave
Spain empty-handed.
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00:09:10,984 --> 00:09:16,056
We immediately appealed
because we thought the penalty
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didn't fit the crime, it was
like being hung for stealing a
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loaf of bread.
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They pretend in the appeal to
say that this difference was not
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affecting the performance
of the car.
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00:09:26,767 --> 00:09:27,901
Bullshit.
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Had you any idea the car might
be thrown out?
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No, I didn't know, I just
drive the damn thing.
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00:09:40,380 --> 00:09:42,950
Narrator: Although their teams
are at war, both drivers are
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00:09:42,983 --> 00:09:45,953
trying to steer clear of
politics, but despite their
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00:09:45,986 --> 00:09:50,057
different characters, their
passion for racing is a bond.
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00:09:50,457 --> 00:09:53,293
Well, Niki, he spent time in
our pits, was always visiting
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00:09:53,326 --> 00:09:57,364
us, and his grasp of English
was very good.
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And he was always known as The
Rat, because he looked
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like a rat.
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00:10:00,233 --> 00:10:01,735
So, he was called Rat to his
face.
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00:10:01,769 --> 00:10:02,970
James said, hello, Rat.
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00:10:03,003 --> 00:10:06,406
They meshed well because they
weren't actually directly in
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competition from looks.
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00:10:08,308 --> 00:10:10,043
So, there are no friends.
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They are all trying to win, and
friendship is not the case, but
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some guys are more sympathetic
than the others, and James was
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certainly one I would drink a
beer after a race, because he
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00:10:20,988 --> 00:10:22,422
was a nice guy.
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00:10:22,455 --> 00:10:27,294
Even high competition amongst
each other, but James was one of
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00:10:27,327 --> 00:10:28,327
the better ones.
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00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:43,143
Narrator: The wild side of 70's
Formula One is revealed in this
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recently discovered footage
of an after-race party.
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00:10:51,418 --> 00:10:55,188
Hunt is the star, with Lauda in
the wings.
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00:11:06,333 --> 00:11:09,169
For sure Niki was in awe of
James's good looks
186
00:11:09,202 --> 00:11:12,105
and personality.
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00:11:15,175 --> 00:11:19,212
James was the good-looking
playboy and Niki was the small
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Austrian who looked like a rat.
189
00:11:27,387 --> 00:11:31,024
They were good friends, though
on the race track, of course no
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00:11:31,058 --> 00:11:33,402
chord are given because that's
the, you know, the race driver
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00:11:33,426 --> 00:11:36,163
persona can change completely
once on the race track all of
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00:11:36,196 --> 00:11:38,098
this is forgotten.
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00:11:41,334 --> 00:11:43,403
All successful racing drivers
are invested with an
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00:11:43,436 --> 00:11:45,005
enormous ego.
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00:11:46,239 --> 00:11:47,975
They all think they're the
quickest.
196
00:11:48,008 --> 00:11:50,253
They can't imagine that they're
not the fastest racing driver in
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00:11:50,277 --> 00:11:51,945
the world.
198
00:11:53,380 --> 00:11:57,117
To admit to anything else but
that would be ludicrous.
199
00:11:58,986 --> 00:12:01,030
Niki and James both thought they
were the best racing driver in
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00:12:01,054 --> 00:12:03,190
the world.
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00:12:03,991 --> 00:12:06,426
Narrator: As the season
approaches halfway, and even
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00:12:06,459 --> 00:12:10,297
when the points from Spain are
reinstated, it's Lauda who still
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00:12:10,330 --> 00:12:13,934
dominates with double Hunt's
points.
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00:12:22,475 --> 00:12:25,112
Anouncer: This is Brands Hatch,
just outside London in the Kent
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countryside, and today is
British Grand Prix day.
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00:12:28,281 --> 00:12:31,351
The biggest day on Britain's
motorsport calendar.
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Narrator: The race is sold out.
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00:12:34,321 --> 00:12:37,224
Britain is in
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00:12:37,257 --> 00:12:41,061
A record 80,000 spectators fill
the circuit and all eyes are on
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00:12:41,094 --> 00:12:42,329
one man.
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00:12:48,101 --> 00:12:51,404
There is drama right from the
start.
212
00:12:52,105 --> 00:12:54,607
Clay Regazzoni managed to
drive into the back wheel of
213
00:12:54,641 --> 00:12:58,979
Lauda, so the two Ferraris
actually collided, complete
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00:12:59,012 --> 00:13:01,081
mayhem began.
215
00:13:04,151 --> 00:13:06,319
James's car landed on
the left front corner, but being
216
00:13:06,353 --> 00:13:09,222
a McLaren, it didn't brake, and
being James with two pints of
217
00:13:09,256 --> 00:13:12,192
adrenaline, he didn't stop, he
charged off with the front
218
00:13:12,225 --> 00:13:15,062
wheels splayed out, like this.
219
00:13:15,095 --> 00:13:16,339
Announcer: Drivers who escaped
the pileup are
220
00:13:16,363 --> 00:13:19,099
soon flagged down and the race
called to a halt.
221
00:13:20,467 --> 00:13:23,436
James was immediately
thinking, I've got to get back
222
00:13:23,470 --> 00:13:26,073
to the pits and have the car
mended.
223
00:13:26,106 --> 00:13:29,076
I never hit anybody.
224
00:13:29,109 --> 00:13:32,045
I stopped on the left, and next
car came piling into me.
225
00:13:32,079 --> 00:13:33,080
Tell us what happened.
226
00:13:33,113 --> 00:13:35,215
There's a race going on, dear
boy.
227
00:13:36,649 --> 00:13:39,319
Narrator: The race has ground to
a complete halt.
228
00:13:39,352 --> 00:13:42,089
The organizers want to restart
immediately, but Hunt's damaged
229
00:13:42,122 --> 00:13:44,324
car is not on the grid.
230
00:13:44,357 --> 00:13:46,335
And in the chaos in the pit
road, he comes running up to me,
231
00:13:46,359 --> 00:13:48,195
I said, what's the car like?
232
00:13:48,228 --> 00:13:49,438
He said, oh, the car's
destroyed, the car's a
233
00:13:49,462 --> 00:13:51,098
write-off.
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00:13:52,265 --> 00:13:54,377
I wandered down to have a look
at the racecar and realized the
235
00:13:54,401 --> 00:13:59,439
racecar was repairable, that
James's explanation that it was
236
00:13:59,472 --> 00:14:01,274
a write-off was not true.
237
00:14:02,375 --> 00:14:05,078
Narrator: Caldwell and McLaren
will have to act quickly, there
238
00:14:05,112 --> 00:14:07,214
are only minutes to spare.
239
00:14:07,247 --> 00:14:11,051
It was thought that James Hunt
would not be allowed to take the
240
00:14:11,084 --> 00:14:17,324
restart, and the crowd got
behind James as a driver they
241
00:14:17,357 --> 00:14:22,095
wanted to see in that restart in
a way that you don't see
242
00:14:22,129 --> 00:14:24,097
outside a soccer match.
243
00:14:24,131 --> 00:14:27,935
[Audience clapping in unison
244
00:14:27,968 --> 00:14:32,039
The slow handclap which ran
from the start/finish line all
245
00:14:32,072 --> 00:14:35,208
the way up to Paddock Bend and
all the way around South Bank
246
00:14:35,242 --> 00:14:39,046
and round to Westfield Bend, and
then it became boos and then it
247
00:14:39,079 --> 00:14:41,081
became catcalls.
248
00:14:47,020 --> 00:14:51,224
Then, the marshals had to rush
onto the track to pick up beer
249
00:14:51,258 --> 00:14:54,061
cans and coke cans and even
bottles.
250
00:14:54,094 --> 00:14:58,065
I've never seen at a motor race
quite such an extraordinary
251
00:14:58,098 --> 00:15:01,001
display from the public.
252
00:15:01,468 --> 00:15:05,072
We want James Hunt, we want
James Hunt, it was a mini riot
253
00:15:05,105 --> 00:15:10,243
that was going on, which was not
very British.
254
00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:15,949
McLaren were delighted that
there was this confusion and
255
00:15:15,983 --> 00:15:18,318
delay because it gave them a
little bit more time to mend
256
00:15:18,351 --> 00:15:21,121
James Hunt's car.
257
00:15:21,354 --> 00:15:25,092
Anouncer: When they return to
the grid, the crowd goes wild.
258
00:15:29,096 --> 00:15:33,000
Now, James Hunt is certain to
start again.
259
00:15:33,033 --> 00:15:35,468
Well, Ferraris, you could see
their faces fell because they
260
00:15:35,502 --> 00:15:38,071
knew instantly what had
happened, that we had
261
00:15:38,105 --> 00:15:39,539
fixed the racecar.
262
00:15:39,572 --> 00:15:40,916
And what I remember most of
all, actually, in all that, is
263
00:15:40,940 --> 00:15:44,344
Niki Lauda in a rage, getting
back into his car, because he's
264
00:15:44,377 --> 00:15:48,081
suddenly realized how much time
had passed and that McLaren had
265
00:15:48,115 --> 00:15:51,084
had time to repair their racecar
again and get it onto the grid,
266
00:15:51,118 --> 00:15:53,086
and he was absolutely livid.
267
00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:55,355
Anouncer: Back to the grid, and
off they go again.
268
00:15:59,226 --> 00:16:02,329
Narrator: After another chaotic
start, Lauda storms ahead, with
269
00:16:02,362 --> 00:16:04,097
Hunt chasing hard on his tail.
270
00:16:06,133 --> 00:16:09,236
Announcer: The battle is really
on now between Niki Lauda
271
00:16:09,269 --> 00:16:11,371
and James Hunt.
272
00:16:12,405 --> 00:16:15,442
Niki Lauda in the Ferrari
leading James Hunt, cheered on
273
00:16:15,475 --> 00:16:19,246
by the British crowd, gradually
winding him in.
274
00:16:23,116 --> 00:16:26,386
As we went past half distance,
cars go round Paddock Bend, down
275
00:16:26,419 --> 00:16:32,092
to the bottom of the hill, up
the hill and behind the tree, as
276
00:16:32,125 --> 00:16:37,097
the cars then came back into our
sight, the McLaren was in front.
277
00:16:44,137 --> 00:16:46,106
And that's when the crowd
erupted.
278
00:16:54,147 --> 00:16:58,085
Announcer: James Hunt wins the
British Grand Prix.
279
00:16:58,118 --> 00:17:00,853
And we did win the British
Grand Prix fair and square.
280
00:17:00,887 --> 00:17:03,790
James, how much
does this victory mean to you?
281
00:17:03,823 --> 00:17:08,628
Nine points, $20,000 and a lot
of happiness.
282
00:17:08,661 --> 00:17:10,197
How remarkable...
283
00:17:10,230 --> 00:17:11,340
Can you give me a cigarette?
284
00:17:11,364 --> 00:17:13,066
Can I grab that cigarette off
you?
285
00:17:13,100 --> 00:17:14,100
Thanks.
286
00:17:16,303 --> 00:17:19,439
Narrator: But Ferrari is about
to spoil the party.
287
00:17:20,507 --> 00:17:24,111
I think Ferrari appealed
straight away after the race
288
00:17:24,144 --> 00:17:28,047
that we didn't comply with the
rules.
289
00:17:29,149 --> 00:17:31,127
We couldn't work out what
current rule they thought we
290
00:17:31,151 --> 00:17:32,319
hadn't complied.
291
00:17:32,352 --> 00:17:35,488
The rule says, and I am
surprised but not surprised that
292
00:17:35,522 --> 00:17:39,226
Alastair doesn't know what the
rules, that is another example,
293
00:17:39,259 --> 00:17:40,493
no?
294
00:17:40,527 --> 00:17:46,233
That you have to complete the
racecourse even if the race is
295
00:17:46,266 --> 00:17:48,801
suspended.
296
00:17:51,138 --> 00:17:53,906
Narrator: Instead of completing
the lap as the race was stopped,
297
00:17:53,940 --> 00:17:57,410
Hunt had taken a shortcut
back to the pits.
298
00:17:57,444 --> 00:18:02,349
In cutting behind the Paddock,
he didn't complete the race
299
00:18:02,382 --> 00:18:05,285
distance, simple in that.
300
00:18:05,318 --> 00:18:07,496
Narrator: For now, the race
winning points are Hunt's, but
301
00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:11,291
the result hangs in the balance,
waiting on a hearing scheduled
302
00:18:11,324 --> 00:18:13,193
for months later.
303
00:18:18,965 --> 00:18:21,934
Narrator: he next race is at the
notorious Nürburgring
304
00:18:21,968 --> 00:18:23,470
in Germany.
305
00:18:23,970 --> 00:18:26,406
The Nürburgring was a
frightening, but fantastic
306
00:18:26,439 --> 00:18:27,674
racetrack.
307
00:18:27,707 --> 00:18:31,811
It's 14.7 miles around, goes up
and down thousands of feet, it's
308
00:18:31,844 --> 00:18:35,948
got hundreds of corners, it was
just a hostile direct to fast
309
00:18:35,982 --> 00:18:38,451
racing cars, which is part of
its appeal.
310
00:18:38,485 --> 00:18:41,821
Every time I see this it
frightens me, because there's no
311
00:18:41,854 --> 00:18:44,457
barriers on the right-hand side,
there's just a rock face and
312
00:18:44,491 --> 00:18:45,725
trees.
313
00:18:45,758 --> 00:18:47,870
I think if I were to walk along
it then I would be horrified,
314
00:18:47,894 --> 00:18:50,497
I'd never drive around the place
again.
315
00:18:51,398 --> 00:18:54,867
A quick glance at the green, you
probably experience more in 7
316
00:18:54,901 --> 00:18:58,805
minutes and 6 or 7 seconds than
most people have experienced in
317
00:18:58,838 --> 00:19:00,907
all of their life.
318
00:19:00,940 --> 00:19:05,245
It was a pre-health and safety
era.
319
00:19:05,278 --> 00:19:07,847
Motor racing was dangerous, it
said so on the back of every
320
00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:11,284
ticket, and it was part of what
it was.
321
00:19:13,986 --> 00:19:16,223
Narrator: Nearly every year in
Formula One,
322
00:19:16,256 --> 00:19:17,890
a driver had been killed.
323
00:19:19,992 --> 00:19:23,263
By this stage, I'd lost a
brother in a racing car
324
00:19:23,296 --> 00:19:25,865
accident. So, after that,
I thought, I won't
325
00:19:25,898 --> 00:19:28,301
befriend racing drivers, I'll
have them as people who work
326
00:19:28,335 --> 00:19:30,870
for me, but I won't become their
friend, because I don't want
327
00:19:30,903 --> 00:19:32,104
to go to their funeral as a
328
00:19:32,138 --> 00:19:34,507
friend, I want to go to the
funeral as their team manager.
329
00:19:34,541 --> 00:19:38,845
Narrator: For Lauda, the ring
isn't worth the risk.
330
00:19:38,878 --> 00:19:42,249
He calls a meeting of drivers
in an attempt to have it
331
00:19:42,282 --> 00:19:45,452
stopped, but his fellow drivers
don't agree.
332
00:19:45,485 --> 00:19:52,292
He loses by one vote, and now
has no choice but to race.
333
00:19:52,325 --> 00:19:55,928
Sunday before the race, I
walked to the Paddock up to the
334
00:19:55,962 --> 00:20:00,500
pits, and there was an autograph
guy, German guy who wanted an
335
00:20:00,533 --> 00:20:05,238
autograph, which was normal and
I signed the autograph for him,
336
00:20:05,272 --> 00:20:07,974
and he said, put the date on
there, which nobody ever said
337
00:20:08,007 --> 00:20:10,377
before to me, and I said, why
the hell do you want the date?
338
00:20:10,410 --> 00:20:13,012
Because it could be the last
one.
339
00:20:39,339 --> 00:20:41,974
Narrator: For the first time in
the season, it is raining on
340
00:20:42,008 --> 00:20:47,847
race day, but the track is so
long that not all of it is wet.
341
00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:50,350
The choice of tires will be
crucial.
342
00:20:51,918 --> 00:20:54,354
Wet tires, they're quite tall,
they've got big tread on them
343
00:20:54,387 --> 00:20:57,657
like a road tire, unlike the
slicks, which are smooth, no
344
00:20:57,690 --> 00:20:59,292
tread at all.
345
00:21:04,096 --> 00:21:07,099
Like, most of the field, Lauda
starts the race on wet weather
346
00:21:07,133 --> 00:21:10,303
tires, but quickly discovers
he's losing too much speed on
347
00:21:10,337 --> 00:21:13,640
every dry section of the track.
348
00:21:13,673 --> 00:21:17,410
After the first lap, many
drivers come into the pits to
349
00:21:17,444 --> 00:21:19,312
change the tires, it was
really chaos.
350
00:21:19,346 --> 00:21:23,850
The pit stop was a little bit
slow, and when Niki started for
351
00:21:23,883 --> 00:21:29,389
the second lap with the sleek,
he was about maybe in
352
00:21:29,422 --> 00:21:31,358
tenth position.
353
00:21:31,391 --> 00:21:36,429
For a driver, it is not good,
psychologically, to go race in a
354
00:21:36,463 --> 00:21:41,368
sleek on a track that is too
dangerous because it puts you in
355
00:21:41,401 --> 00:21:44,937
a condition that you are afraid.
356
00:21:44,971 --> 00:21:50,377
When he restart on the second
lap, he was not the "cool Niki"
357
00:21:50,410 --> 00:21:53,079
that we know.
358
00:21:53,112 --> 00:21:56,115
I went out of the pits, then I
drove about 18 kilometers around
359
00:21:56,148 --> 00:21:58,451
the circuit and then I crashed.
360
00:22:14,901 --> 00:22:16,512
Narrator: His helmet
comes off in the impact,
361
00:22:16,536 --> 00:22:18,405
and he is trapped in a
fire burning over
362
00:22:18,438 --> 00:22:21,140
400 degrees centigrade.
363
00:22:26,112 --> 00:22:27,480
It will be nearly a minute
364
00:22:27,514 --> 00:22:30,049
before Lauda is pulled
from the flames.
365
00:22:38,925 --> 00:22:40,969
I have no memory of the
accident at all because I hit so
366
00:22:40,993 --> 00:22:43,896
hard, and I was on fire so long
that there's no memory
367
00:22:43,930 --> 00:22:46,533
whatsoever, it's blocked
out, and the memory came
368
00:22:46,566 --> 00:22:50,870
back in the first hospital, or
second hospital.
369
00:23:02,248 --> 00:23:04,984
Narrator: Amongst the drivers
who arrived just after the crash
370
00:23:05,017 --> 00:23:07,019
is James Hunt.
371
00:23:12,992 --> 00:23:14,970
We weren't aware that Niki was
in trouble because there were
372
00:23:14,994 --> 00:23:18,030
racing drivers at the scene, and
he was conscious and talking to
373
00:23:18,064 --> 00:23:20,476
everybody, so when drivers came
back to the pits and said, oh,
374
00:23:20,500 --> 00:23:21,977
Niki's burnt, but he's okay,
he's fine.
375
00:23:22,001 --> 00:23:26,005
Narrator: With the
track cleared, the race
376
00:23:26,038 --> 00:23:29,509
is restarted, and Hunt
is victorious.
377
00:23:33,012 --> 00:23:37,517
He's now just 14 points behind
Lauda.
378
00:23:37,550 --> 00:23:41,153
Then the news came through
that he was gravely ill, so,
379
00:23:41,187 --> 00:23:44,223
yeah, just cast a shadow over
the whole thing.
380
00:23:52,264 --> 00:23:54,667
I can remember it now, I
remember thinking, he isn't
381
00:23:54,701 --> 00:23:55,502
gonna live.
382
00:23:55,535 --> 00:23:58,270
And I felt absolutely
horrendous.
383
00:23:58,304 --> 00:24:02,008
I felt like the bottom had
fallen out of my world.
384
00:24:12,318 --> 00:24:17,156
When we arrived at the
hospital, Niki was little by
385
00:24:17,189 --> 00:24:20,527
little losing conscious.
386
00:25:17,149 --> 00:25:20,920
Narrator: Whilst Lauda battles
for his life, Ferrari are
387
00:25:20,953 --> 00:25:23,155
already looking for
another driver.
388
00:25:23,189 --> 00:25:25,267
So, I was speaking with
Ferrari all the time about the
389
00:25:25,291 --> 00:25:28,227
accident, and Ferrari said to
me, you know, Ferrari will live
390
00:25:28,260 --> 00:25:31,998
with or without Niki.
391
00:25:32,031 --> 00:25:37,236
You don't need to stay in the
hospital, you know, we need you
392
00:25:37,269 --> 00:25:43,676
to go back and find another
driver, because if Nikki will
393
00:25:43,710 --> 00:25:47,313
not drive, Ferrari will not
stop.
394
00:25:49,949 --> 00:25:53,119
Narrator: Once he had been the
protégé of Enzo Ferrari, but for
395
00:25:53,152 --> 00:25:58,124
Enzo, giving up on the world
championship is not an option.
396
00:25:58,157 --> 00:26:00,727
Press and the public like to
concentrate on the drivers being
397
00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:02,370
the most important member of the
team, but it's not at all.
398
00:26:02,394 --> 00:26:07,900
The drivers are very much
replaceable.
399
00:26:08,267 --> 00:26:11,170
And the unfortunate idea of the
two McLaren drivers being
400
00:26:11,203 --> 00:26:15,708
involved in a motorway accident
together and dying, do you think
401
00:26:15,742 --> 00:26:18,244
that their team would be on the
back row of the grid in
402
00:26:18,277 --> 00:26:19,445
the next race?
403
00:26:19,478 --> 00:26:21,881
No, they won't be, because
they'll just hire two more hot
404
00:26:21,914 --> 00:26:24,183
shoes and they'll be right up
there.
405
00:26:27,019 --> 00:26:29,388
Narrator: Hunt takes full
advantage in the next two races,
406
00:26:29,421 --> 00:26:32,191
closing the gap to
just two points.
407
00:26:34,426 --> 00:26:37,196
Lauda has second and third
degree burns to his face and
408
00:26:37,229 --> 00:26:42,101
hands, part of his scalp has
been burnt away.
409
00:26:42,134 --> 00:26:47,273
He has lost half of one ear and
his lungs are barely working.
410
00:26:48,741 --> 00:26:52,178
But I suddenly was aware of
through the accident, how
411
00:26:52,211 --> 00:26:55,214
quickly you can die.
412
00:26:56,282 --> 00:27:03,289
I remember my wife coming and
she burst in tears, so she was
413
00:27:03,322 --> 00:27:07,694
very much affected when she saw
me there, and I said, shit, you
414
00:27:07,727 --> 00:27:12,364
know, if she's crying then I
must be in a bad state.
415
00:27:13,966 --> 00:27:17,136
But in racing, the risk and
taking chances was exactly the
416
00:27:17,169 --> 00:27:24,410
same as it was before because
this was part of the game.
417
00:27:29,215 --> 00:27:32,985
Announcer: Just 40 days after
doctors had given up hope, and a
418
00:27:33,019 --> 00:27:35,021
priest had knelt at his
bedside, the Austrian
419
00:27:35,054 --> 00:27:38,024
ace climbed back into the
cockpit of his glaring red
420
00:27:38,057 --> 00:27:45,331
Ferrari. His friends and
colleagues claim that
421
00:27:45,364 --> 00:27:47,133
his miracle recovery had
422
00:27:47,166 --> 00:27:52,939
more to do with his iron will
than with master surgery.
423
00:27:53,973 --> 00:27:56,184
Narrator: With 5 races left and
everything still to play for,
424
00:27:56,208 --> 00:27:59,311
Lauda is back.
425
00:28:00,012 --> 00:28:06,018
Niki Lauda was recovering so
fast that he proposed to Ferrari
426
00:28:06,052 --> 00:28:09,288
to race him at Manza.
427
00:28:09,321 --> 00:28:12,391
And Ferrari said, no, don't,
because if we lose the
428
00:28:12,424 --> 00:28:17,029
championship in the end of the
year, you don't start so early
429
00:28:17,063 --> 00:28:20,199
because then we can say you had
an accident.
430
00:28:20,232 --> 00:28:23,903
And this was exactly the
opposite what I was thinking.
431
00:28:46,192 --> 00:28:49,996
Narrator: At Lauda's side is his
wife, Marlene, who has been with
432
00:28:50,029 --> 00:28:53,399
him throughout his recovery, but
Manza is the last place she
433
00:28:53,432 --> 00:28:55,101
wants him to be.
434
00:29:20,426 --> 00:29:27,033
Narrator: Manza, Italy, home to
Ferrari and their fans.
435
00:29:27,566 --> 00:29:31,037
After coming within seconds of
being burnt to death, Lauda
436
00:29:31,070 --> 00:29:34,173
returns to a hero's welcome.
437
00:29:35,307 --> 00:29:41,080
When we went to Manza, the
focus was on Niki, 110%.
438
00:29:41,113 --> 00:29:46,052
We took him inside the garage,
he took out the balaclava, and
439
00:29:46,085 --> 00:29:53,025
it was really, his face was a
mask of blood and they said, my
440
00:29:53,059 --> 00:29:55,027
god, how can he race?
441
00:30:00,432 --> 00:30:06,272
It was pouring with rain on
his return.
442
00:30:06,305 --> 00:30:08,307
This is the Nürburgring carrying
on, almost.
443
00:30:08,340 --> 00:30:11,343
You know, the gloom of the
Nürburgring.
444
00:30:11,944 --> 00:30:14,056
Is there any psychological
aftereffects from this accident
445
00:30:14,080 --> 00:30:15,147
for you at all?
446
00:30:15,181 --> 00:30:17,083
No, I don't think so.
447
00:30:17,116 --> 00:30:19,118
Everything looks good.
448
00:30:27,093 --> 00:30:29,428
Narrator: Lauda prepares to go
back on the track to race
449
00:30:29,461 --> 00:30:34,366
against the clock for his
place on the starting line.
450
00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:35,601
The pressure was on.
451
00:30:35,634 --> 00:30:37,412
The Ferrari called, should they
race, should they not race?
452
00:30:37,436 --> 00:30:42,041
It was huge pressure on me for
that particular race.
453
00:30:42,074 --> 00:30:46,178
Narrator: The physical
scars have begun to heal,
454
00:30:46,212 --> 00:30:49,081
but the mental ones run deeper.
455
00:30:50,582 --> 00:30:54,186
I came to the circuit, wanted
to drive, but couldn't drive.
456
00:31:01,994 --> 00:31:06,065
And then, suddenly, I was hit by
the whole four weeks, accident
457
00:31:06,098 --> 00:31:09,168
problems, all these kind of
things, and I just
458
00:31:09,201 --> 00:31:10,903
couldn't drive.
459
00:31:12,972 --> 00:31:16,342
So, I did one slow lap, went
back into the pit, I said, I go
460
00:31:16,375 --> 00:31:18,945
back there and then drive for
myself.
461
00:31:40,266 --> 00:31:44,203
And at the end of the day, I
was the quickest Ferrari, and
462
00:31:44,236 --> 00:31:47,006
was right back like before.
463
00:31:48,207 --> 00:31:51,944
Narrator: Just before the race
begins, Hunt's team, McLaren,
464
00:31:51,978 --> 00:31:54,046
are having problems
of their own.
465
00:31:54,080 --> 00:31:56,415
Their fuel has been ruled to be
illegal.
466
00:31:56,448 --> 00:31:59,018
We were made to pump the fuel
out of their cars, fill up with
467
00:31:59,051 --> 00:32:01,320
standard fuel at the racetrack
and start on the back
468
00:32:01,353 --> 00:32:02,388
of the grid.
469
00:32:02,421 --> 00:32:05,057
So, we were shafted by the
Italians.
470
00:32:05,091 --> 00:32:07,093
But this is very, they're very
good at this.
471
00:32:07,126 --> 00:32:11,230
So, the Italian Mafioso managed
to get us on the back row
472
00:32:11,263 --> 00:32:12,531
of the grid.
473
00:32:12,564 --> 00:32:15,067
How was it feeling, fighting
against Niki again?
474
00:32:15,101 --> 00:32:18,604
Hard work.
475
00:32:18,637 --> 00:32:21,073
When he first met him, James
said straight away, he said,
476
00:32:21,107 --> 00:32:23,609
Niki, you're the only person I
know who can be in a fire and
477
00:32:23,642 --> 00:32:25,411
come out better looking.
478
00:32:29,781 --> 00:32:33,419
For Niki, this race is life or
death, you know.
479
00:32:35,821 --> 00:32:38,424
I finish and go in the points,
or I lose the championship
480
00:32:38,457 --> 00:32:40,359
here in Manza.
481
00:32:43,062 --> 00:32:45,597
Narrator: Stuck at the back of
the grid, Hunt makes a charge on
482
00:32:45,631 --> 00:32:48,300
the first lap, but as
he tries to fight his
483
00:32:48,334 --> 00:32:51,203
way through, he almost
immediately spins
484
00:32:51,237 --> 00:32:53,105
out of the race.
485
00:32:54,306 --> 00:32:56,184
Announcer: The Italian crowd
cheers for only two things
486
00:32:56,208 --> 00:32:58,110
today, the Ferrari party,
or their most serious
487
00:32:58,144 --> 00:33:02,781
challenger to the world
championship in trouble.
488
00:33:02,814 --> 00:33:04,450
Here, it is the latter.
489
00:33:04,483 --> 00:33:07,286
Poor James, he didn't enjoy
the walk back past the
490
00:33:07,319 --> 00:33:08,354
Italian fans.
491
00:33:08,387 --> 00:33:09,797
Well, actually, thinking about
it, knowing James,
492
00:33:09,821 --> 00:33:11,390
he probably loved it.
493
00:33:21,467 --> 00:33:25,437
Lauda's wife, Marlene could
only watch.
494
00:33:59,105 --> 00:34:02,374
Incredibly, Niki finished not
only the race, but finished
495
00:34:02,408 --> 00:34:09,215
fourth, and that was something
incredible.
496
00:34:37,376 --> 00:34:39,816
Narrator: Hunt and McLaren jet
off to prepare for the Canadian
497
00:34:39,845 --> 00:34:43,249
Grand Prix, but their
troubles are far from over.
498
00:34:45,484 --> 00:34:48,820
In Paris, Ferrari presents its
case for overturning McLaren's
499
00:34:48,854 --> 00:34:51,823
win at the British Grand Prix.
500
00:34:51,857 --> 00:34:54,626
There were gentlemen in
blazers wearing old school ties
501
00:34:54,660 --> 00:35:00,432
who were meant to decide on
matters of whether people should
502
00:35:00,466 --> 00:35:03,869
be disqualified, drivers should
start or not start.
503
00:35:03,902 --> 00:35:06,305
None of them really seemed to
have read the rulebook very
504
00:35:06,338 --> 00:35:07,506
clearly.
505
00:35:07,539 --> 00:35:09,584
These three old boys turned up
and were introduced to the
506
00:35:09,608 --> 00:35:12,778
saintly Niki before they went
in, which was all part of
507
00:35:12,811 --> 00:35:20,252
Ferrari's, you know,
psychological warfare.
508
00:35:22,354 --> 00:35:24,232
So, they all went in going, oh,
we've touched the hand of Saint
509
00:35:24,256 --> 00:35:25,791
Niki.
510
00:35:28,227 --> 00:35:30,472
Narrator: The verdict goes
against McLaren, and nine vital
511
00:35:30,496 --> 00:35:33,299
points are deducted.
512
00:35:34,966 --> 00:35:36,644
So, we didn't win the British
Grand Prix, and there's no
513
00:35:36,668 --> 00:35:37,936
appeal to this appeal.
514
00:35:37,969 --> 00:35:39,905
That's it, that's the end of it.
515
00:35:39,938 --> 00:35:43,342
Narrator: With so many points
lost, and only three races to
516
00:35:43,375 --> 00:35:46,445
go, the odds are heavily
against Hunt.
517
00:35:46,478 --> 00:35:49,881
I decided that y'know, we
couldn't possibly win the world
518
00:35:49,915 --> 00:35:53,385
championship from this position
now, without these points, and
519
00:35:53,419 --> 00:35:56,922
stopped trying to control
James's excesses, which became
520
00:35:56,955 --> 00:35:58,257
quite excessive.
521
00:36:04,930 --> 00:36:06,641
We were staying in a great big
motel on the side of the freeway
522
00:36:06,665 --> 00:36:11,237
in Toronto, and there was a live
band playing in the bar, and the
523
00:36:11,270 --> 00:36:15,974
lead singer was a bit like
Stevie Nicks, blonde little
524
00:36:16,007 --> 00:36:18,910
dynamite creature, so James made
us to pull her.
525
00:36:18,944 --> 00:36:22,781
We had to get up early in the
morning to go out to the warm up
526
00:36:22,814 --> 00:36:25,817
and he came down, you know,
disheveled with this lady,
527
00:36:25,851 --> 00:36:30,021
obviously, anyway, disheveled
might be the best way of
528
00:36:30,055 --> 00:36:31,022
putting it.
529
00:36:31,056 --> 00:36:33,792
Staggered off to the racetrack,
won the race!
530
00:36:43,068 --> 00:36:45,471
Sex, the breakfast of champions.
531
00:36:45,504 --> 00:36:47,939
In this particular case, it
worked out.
532
00:36:52,311 --> 00:36:55,347
Narrator: The winning candidate
gets nine vital points, and in
533
00:36:55,381 --> 00:36:58,384
the next race, he
remains on form.
534
00:36:58,417 --> 00:37:01,052
He storms through to another
victory and takes the pole
535
00:37:01,086 --> 00:37:05,391
again, but Lauda is still ahead
by three points.
536
00:37:05,424 --> 00:37:09,027
After ten months and 15 races,
the championship has come down
537
00:37:09,060 --> 00:37:11,797
to the very last Grand Prix.
538
00:37:15,301 --> 00:37:19,471
For the first time ever, the
final race is in Japan.
539
00:37:19,505 --> 00:37:22,941
Excitement about the season has
reached fever pitch.
540
00:37:22,974 --> 00:37:27,946
Only three points separate Hunt
and Lauda.
541
00:37:27,979 --> 00:37:30,616
This will be the first race ever
to be broadcast live by
542
00:37:30,649 --> 00:37:33,051
satellite across the world.
543
00:37:33,084 --> 00:37:37,055
Determined to win it, so, in
order to do that, the best thing
544
00:37:37,088 --> 00:37:39,291
for me to do is to win the race
here.
545
00:37:41,059 --> 00:37:44,363
Narrator: But on race day, the
weather threatens to bring the
546
00:37:44,396 --> 00:37:45,436
season to a premature end.
547
00:37:47,098 --> 00:37:50,336
All the drivers got together
and said, this is ridiculous,
548
00:37:50,369 --> 00:37:54,340
and not only was Niki Lauda
saying that,
549
00:37:54,373 --> 00:37:57,809
James Hunt also said, this race
should not take place.
550
00:37:57,843 --> 00:38:01,079
James and Niki were both on
the Drivers Safety Committee, so
551
00:38:01,112 --> 00:38:03,491
they were in the tower, arguing
that the race shouldn't be held.
552
00:38:03,515 --> 00:38:07,118
So, we had this confrontation, I
was saying to him, you know, if
553
00:38:07,152 --> 00:38:09,955
we don't race, James, you can't
win the world championship.
554
00:38:09,988 --> 00:38:12,057
Oh, no, chap, we can't race,
it's too dangerous.
555
00:38:12,090 --> 00:38:15,894
It's all very, you know, very
above board, a bit irritating
556
00:38:15,927 --> 00:38:17,472
when you're trying to win the
world championship, and you
557
00:38:17,496 --> 00:38:19,064
can't, obviously, when you don't
race.
558
00:38:22,368 --> 00:38:26,938
Narrator: The race has now been
delayed for nearly two hours.
559
00:38:26,972 --> 00:38:29,941
The rain continues to fall, but
the race organizers have reached
560
00:38:29,975 --> 00:38:31,176
a decision.
561
00:38:31,209 --> 00:38:34,480
And before then, the race
director came in and said, we
562
00:38:34,513 --> 00:38:37,483
have to start, and we all looked
up and said, excuse me?
563
00:38:37,516 --> 00:38:38,950
It's the same rain as before,
why?
564
00:38:38,984 --> 00:38:41,119
Because of television.
565
00:38:41,152 --> 00:38:45,357
In two hours it will be too
dark, and we have the satellite
566
00:38:45,391 --> 00:38:48,860
TV that cost a lot of money, and
we have a contract with the
567
00:38:48,894 --> 00:38:52,030
organizer to at least start the
race, otherwise, we all lose
568
00:38:52,063 --> 00:38:56,435
money, the teams, the drivers, I
lose the money if we don't at
569
00:38:56,468 --> 00:38:57,403
least start the race.
570
00:38:57,436 --> 00:39:00,071
Announcer: So, this race
is going ahead, the
571
00:39:00,105 --> 00:39:03,074
drivers are going out now for an
exploratory lap, but I've never
572
00:39:03,108 --> 00:39:05,377
seen conditions quite like this.
573
00:39:05,411 --> 00:39:07,855
Narrator: The drivers have been
forced onto the starting grid by
574
00:39:07,879 --> 00:39:11,483
the demands of the vast TV
audience they have created.
575
00:39:11,517 --> 00:39:14,453
In Britain, it's three in the
morning.
576
00:39:14,486 --> 00:39:16,988
Hunt's parents and friends are
watching the live satellite
577
00:39:17,022 --> 00:39:21,059
broadcast in a TV studio, but
his sister, Sally, is at home,
578
00:39:21,092 --> 00:39:22,327
glued to the radio.
579
00:39:22,360 --> 00:39:25,196
We switched on the radio very
early in the morning, and I can
580
00:39:25,230 --> 00:39:28,500
remember walking around the
house with the radio clamped to
581
00:39:28,534 --> 00:39:30,836
my ear, and the tension was just
amazing.
582
00:39:30,869 --> 00:39:35,040
Announcer: It's James Hunt who's
first to move, Hunt leads.
583
00:39:35,073 --> 00:39:38,109
Who has been eating his spray.
584
00:39:38,143 --> 00:39:42,448
The conditions are even worse.
585
00:39:43,014 --> 00:39:45,192
Narrator: Hunt takes the lead,
but for other drivers following,
586
00:39:45,216 --> 00:39:48,654
the water's spray is dangerously
reducing visibility to near
587
00:39:48,687 --> 00:39:52,190
zero, and all the cars are
slipping and sliding in the
588
00:39:52,223 --> 00:39:54,926
heavy rain.
589
00:39:54,960 --> 00:39:58,129
Announcer: Brambilla takes the
lead, but Hunt comes back,
590
00:39:58,163 --> 00:39:59,998
and Brambilla spins!
591
00:40:00,031 --> 00:40:03,234
Hunt's clear, Hunt's retaken the
lead!
592
00:40:03,268 --> 00:40:06,505
This is sensational world
champions.
593
00:40:06,538 --> 00:40:09,475
Hunt leads the race, Niki Lauda
has pulled into the pits.
594
00:40:09,508 --> 00:40:15,847
Niki stopped because, you
know, it's too dangerous, I
595
00:40:15,881 --> 00:40:16,948
stop.
596
00:40:16,982 --> 00:40:20,486
Announcer: So, this
extraordinary 1976 season has
597
00:40:20,519 --> 00:40:25,090
taken another twist. Lauda
is out of this final race.
598
00:40:25,123 --> 00:40:30,629
But it seems it's not because of
any problem with his car.
599
00:40:30,662 --> 00:40:34,132
I tell him, Niki, what do you
have to say that you have a
600
00:40:34,165 --> 00:40:36,201
technical failure or something?
601
00:40:36,234 --> 00:40:40,138
No, he said to me, tell them
that it is too dangerous
602
00:40:40,171 --> 00:40:41,171
to race.
603
00:40:44,175 --> 00:40:49,948
When a normal racing driver is
not affected by an accident, you
604
00:40:49,981 --> 00:40:55,854
have reserves, so it means your
level of risk taking is higher
605
00:40:55,887 --> 00:41:00,258
than you, like, in my case, you
just come out of death, and had
606
00:41:00,291 --> 00:41:04,195
everything happening to you, and
then a couple of races later,
607
00:41:04,229 --> 00:41:07,198
you have to face this more
difficult situation with the
608
00:41:07,232 --> 00:41:10,936
water and the rain and risk
going up.
609
00:41:10,969 --> 00:41:14,205
And, at that time, I was not
prepared to take this extra risk
610
00:41:14,239 --> 00:41:15,473
because of the accident.
611
00:41:15,507 --> 00:41:19,511
And, emotionally, for me, it
was impossible to tell Nikki,
612
00:41:19,545 --> 00:41:24,950
you know, to go back to race,
because you see, his eyes, was
613
00:41:24,983 --> 00:41:28,119
really terrorize.
614
00:41:29,855 --> 00:41:32,290
Narrator: Lauda is out of the
race, but he was still become
615
00:41:32,323 --> 00:41:36,662
world champion if Hunt fails
to score enough points.
616
00:41:44,703 --> 00:41:48,640
And then the rain stopped and
the water disappeared on the
617
00:41:48,674 --> 00:41:52,978
circuit, and the circuit got
better by coincidence,
618
00:41:53,011 --> 00:41:56,281
basically, and, but I was not
racing, and I still would do the
619
00:41:56,314 --> 00:41:57,415
same today.
620
00:41:57,448 --> 00:42:00,218
Narrator: Hunt must finish third
or higher to take the
621
00:42:00,251 --> 00:42:02,320
championship. But as the
track dries out,
622
00:42:02,353 --> 00:42:05,857
his wet weather tires
begin to overheat.
623
00:42:05,891 --> 00:42:07,869
One of the techniques you
could do was cool them down by
624
00:42:07,893 --> 00:42:10,328
running in puddles deliberately
on the straights.
625
00:42:10,361 --> 00:42:15,333
So, we put this sign out, cool
tires, but James refused to
626
00:42:15,366 --> 00:42:18,236
acknowledge or do this.
627
00:42:19,104 --> 00:42:20,205
Cool the tires!
628
00:42:20,238 --> 00:42:22,073
>Cool the tires!
629
00:42:22,107 --> 00:42:24,943
And he's down the middle of the
road, oblivious.
630
00:42:24,976 --> 00:42:31,249
Eventually, he wore all the
rubber off them, all the canvas,
631
00:42:31,282 --> 00:42:34,219
down to the air, and he had two
flat tires.
632
00:42:34,252 --> 00:42:39,090
And with five laps to go, he
came into the pits.
633
00:42:39,124 --> 00:42:42,928
We thought that perhaps it was
all going to go wrong for James.
634
00:42:43,228 --> 00:42:46,865
Announcer: So, finally, James
Hunt does come into the pits
635
00:42:46,898 --> 00:42:50,001
with five laps to
go here at Fuji.
636
00:42:50,035 --> 00:42:52,237
This could spell the end of
James...
637
00:42:52,270 --> 00:42:54,281
Because he had two flat tires,
we couldn't jack the car
638
00:42:54,305 --> 00:42:55,373
up very well.
639
00:42:55,406 --> 00:42:57,976
So, the car was too low to get
the jack underneath.
640
00:42:58,009 --> 00:43:00,245
So, the mechanic and I had to
pick up the left front
641
00:43:00,278 --> 00:43:01,246
of the car.
642
00:43:01,279 --> 00:43:03,090
So, it took us, like, 24 seconds
or something to
643
00:43:03,114 --> 00:43:04,950
change the tires.
644
00:43:04,983 --> 00:43:06,685
Announcer: Hunt is rejoined in
fifth place,
645
00:43:06,718 --> 00:43:08,887
not enough for title.
646
00:43:12,891 --> 00:43:14,368
Narrator: With the championship
seemingly beyond his grasp,
647
00:43:14,392 --> 00:43:18,163
Hunt, the sportsman, throws
caution to the wind and makes
648
00:43:18,196 --> 00:43:20,231
his charge for the finish line.
649
00:43:20,265 --> 00:43:22,668
Announcer: See a McLaren passing
a Ferrari, so Hunt is ahead
650
00:43:22,701 --> 00:43:25,904
of Regazzoni now!
651
00:43:26,337 --> 00:43:29,875
The Lotus, Mario Andretti is
going to win this race, but
652
00:43:29,908 --> 00:43:34,079
Hunt's on his way to third, and
four championship points, just
653
00:43:34,112 --> 00:43:39,117
enough, by one point, to make
him world champion.
654
00:43:41,152 --> 00:43:44,322
James Hunt finishes third,
James Hunt is champion
655
00:43:44,355 --> 00:43:45,691
of the world.
656
00:43:50,395 --> 00:43:54,132
We were all whizzing about,
sort of cheering, and excited
657
00:43:54,165 --> 00:43:56,668
because James was now world
champion.
658
00:43:56,702 --> 00:44:00,238
Narrator: But right now, Hunt
himself has no idea
659
00:44:00,271 --> 00:44:01,439
the championship is his.
660
00:44:01,472 --> 00:44:06,945
Now, James Hunt came into the
pits in a rage, and as the
661
00:44:06,978 --> 00:44:10,949
McLaren team gathered round,
James got out of the car, pulled
662
00:44:10,982 --> 00:44:14,986
off his crash helmet, started to
rant and rave at them and Teddy
663
00:44:15,020 --> 00:44:18,990
Mayer was holding up three
fingers, saying, James, you're
664
00:44:19,024 --> 00:44:21,893
third, you're a champion!
665
00:44:21,927 --> 00:44:24,162
And gradually, the penny
dropped.
666
00:44:24,195 --> 00:44:27,899
There was a lot of excitement,
and does he know yet, and is it
667
00:44:27,933 --> 00:44:31,102
true, and then suddenly, it was
true, and he was world champion.
668
00:44:31,136 --> 00:44:35,040
Narrator: Hunt has won, despite
ignoring team words.
669
00:44:35,073 --> 00:44:38,509
I was not best pleased with
him, you won't see me in any of
670
00:44:38,543 --> 00:44:41,212
the photographs, I'm nowhere
near him, because I just wanna
671
00:44:41,246 --> 00:44:43,314
punch him in the mouth.
672
00:44:46,885 --> 00:44:48,325
Even though he is the world
champion.
673
00:44:51,990 --> 00:44:55,526
Yeah, well, you know, I feel
really sorry for Niki, but quite
674
00:44:55,560 --> 00:44:59,164
honestly, you know, I wanted to
win the championship, and I felt
675
00:44:59,197 --> 00:45:00,641
that I deserved to win the
championship.
676
00:45:00,665 --> 00:45:03,234
I also felt that Niki deserved
to win the championship, and I
677
00:45:03,268 --> 00:45:05,203
just wished we could have
shared it.
678
00:45:06,204 --> 00:45:10,175
I said at the same time, at
the time there, if anybody
679
00:45:10,208 --> 00:45:15,113
should get the championship,
then I'm happy it's James,
680
00:45:15,146 --> 00:45:19,017
because I liked him, and we were
not buddies, but we were at
681
00:45:19,050 --> 00:45:22,988
least empathic, so I think we
took care of each other from the
682
00:45:23,021 --> 00:45:26,958
heart in a very nice way, which,
in these days the heart was
683
00:45:26,992 --> 00:45:28,259
never shown in Formula One.
684
00:45:33,164 --> 00:45:36,101
Hunt, who came into Heathrow
early today said, I don't think
685
00:45:36,134 --> 00:45:38,269
I've stopped celebrating since
the race.
686
00:45:40,538 --> 00:45:43,174
Well, we met James coming
home, there was James looking
687
00:45:43,208 --> 00:45:46,011
slightly dazed, you could
probably say completely out of
688
00:45:46,044 --> 00:45:49,247
it, he'd drunk quite a lot on
the way home.
689
00:45:49,280 --> 00:45:52,984
Very tired and somewhat
hungover, thank you very much.
690
00:45:53,018 --> 00:45:54,385
What was the party like?
691
00:45:54,419 --> 00:45:58,857
It was long, but quite good.
692
00:45:58,890 --> 00:46:01,860
And we all went off
to a party, and I have to say,
693
00:46:01,893 --> 00:46:03,104
my memory's a bit hazy
after that,
694
00:46:03,128 --> 00:46:04,095
because, I think I drunk more
695
00:46:04,129 --> 00:46:07,866
champagne for breakfast than I
ever had before.
696
00:46:09,334 --> 00:46:12,003
Narrator: Hunt and Lauda would
never have such a close race
697
00:46:12,037 --> 00:46:15,006
again, but the legacy
of the first superstars
698
00:46:15,040 --> 00:46:17,909
of Grand Prix helped
shape Formula One
699
00:46:17,943 --> 00:46:22,180
into the global TV sport it
is today.
700
00:46:23,048 --> 00:46:27,252
The excitement of that season
meant that no self-respecting
701
00:46:27,285 --> 00:46:32,123
country could allow its
television service not to cover
702
00:46:32,157 --> 00:46:33,959
Formula One properly.
703
00:46:33,992 --> 00:46:38,930
So, suddenly, Formula One was
available everywhere.
704
00:46:40,265 --> 00:46:45,003
We had James and Niki coming
out of this as these two titans
705
00:46:45,036 --> 00:46:46,171
of their time.
706
00:46:46,204 --> 00:46:48,039
Who could've predicted that?
707
00:46:48,073 --> 00:46:50,175
It was just the most amazing
season.
708
00:46:50,208 --> 00:46:53,344
In life, you need a certain
amount of luck.
709
00:46:53,378 --> 00:46:55,914
The question is how much luck
you need.
710
00:46:55,947 --> 00:46:58,249
I think the luck is the meaning.
711
00:46:58,283 --> 00:47:02,287
I think human beings can do much
more for themself then, I think.
712
00:47:04,022 --> 00:47:05,924
We have to remember only the
good things.
713
00:47:05,957 --> 00:47:08,894
It was a good fight.
714
00:47:09,560 --> 00:47:12,230
I don't think I thought of it
as my little brother although
715
00:47:12,263 --> 00:47:14,099
that's what he was.
716
00:47:14,132 --> 00:47:21,039
I just thought, oh, it's James
who I love, and my friend, and
717
00:47:21,072 --> 00:47:24,242
he's achieved what he wants to
achieve.
718
00:47:24,275 --> 00:47:26,211
That was very exciting.
719
00:47:27,946 --> 00:47:29,247
How do you want to do it?
720
00:47:29,280 --> 00:47:30,992
Do you want to go a steady paced
70 years, or do you wanna go
721
00:47:31,016 --> 00:47:33,018
flat out for 10 years and then
relax?
722
00:47:33,051 --> 00:47:35,220
And I rather like doing it that
way.
723
00:47:38,924 --> 00:47:40,935
At the time, we said, if you
wrote this as a film script,
724
00:47:40,959 --> 00:47:42,327
people will say, that's
ridiculous.
725
00:47:42,360 --> 00:47:44,996
You gotta have something
believable, you can't have the
726
00:47:45,030 --> 00:47:46,531
farcical story.
727
00:47:46,564 --> 00:47:48,900
But the farcical story is true.
62031
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