The 1976 Drivers Championship was one for the ages. Celebrated in the film Rush, the battle between Niki Lauda and James Hunt brought all the drama of that year to the silver screen. The Hesketh team folded at the end of 1975 leaving driver James Hunt without a drive for the quickly approaching 1976 season. A seat became vacant at the McLaren team when 2-time World Driver Champion Emerson Fittipaldi committed career suicide leaving McLaren and joining his brother's Fittipaldi team. Niki Lauda had captured the 1975 Drivers Championship with the revitalized Ferrari team. With one victory on his resume, Hunt was a winner, but the jury was out as to his being a potential Drivers Champion. The story of the 1976 season has been told many times with Lauda starting clicking off victories and building up a lead in the championship. Hunt took a couple of wins, but it was the events at the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring that changed the dynamics of the championship. Lauda's crash and subsequent recovery opened the door to a run of success by Hunt. Although Lauda recovered enough to drive, Hunt had the momentum and won the title by a single point.
Championship Year captures James Hunt breaking for Turn 8 during the 1976 US GP East at Watkins Glen. Hunt won the race, his second victory in 2 weeks and setup the title showdown at the final event in Japan.
The original image was shot on Kodak Ektachrome film.
There are 3 types of prints offered, each in multiple sizes. There are 2 paper print options using Hahnemuhle Fine Art paper.
Option 1 is printed on Baryta paper. It is a bright white, cellulose-based Fine Art paper. Baryta is an acid and lignin-free, 325 gsm and 100% α-cellulose paper that conforms to ISO 9706 for museum quality and highest age resistance.
Option 2 is printed on Fine Art Photo Rag Metallic paper. Metallic is a silvery-shimmering Fine Art paper with a specially formulated coating for Fine Art use. The natural white cotton paper contains no optical brighteners and has the characteristic Photo Rag surface structure and sumptuous feel. Metallic is an acid and lignin-free, 340 gsm and 100% cotton paper that conforms to ISO 9706 for museum quality and highest age resistance.
Both Hahnemuhle Fine Art paper prints are shipped unframed and are ready for matting and framing.
Option 3 is a dye sublimation printed on aluminum with a glossy finish. The Aluminum print has a high-gloss white finish that bright colors and high image definition. Prints are shipped with a float mount hanger mounted 2in inside the rear of the print.
Although the aluminum print is more expensive, it is delivered ready to hang and there is no additional framing cost.
