Hunt versus Lauda - BBC documentary

Unsurprisingly, the release of Ron Howard's motion picture "Rush" has triggered much media coverage of the rivalry between the 1970s Grand Prix drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda.  Last night BBC television rescreened its documentary entitled "Hunt vs Lauda - F1's Greatest Racing Rivals".  Some enthusiasts might dispute the accuracy of the second half of that title, but I thought it was an entertaining documentary, with some rare footage, and cutting and amusing analysis by those who were close to the action.

It was superior I think to the BBC's similar effort of years gone by, which was part of the "Clash of the Titans" series.  Some additional but revealing snippets of footage have naturally come out of the woodwork in the intervening years, and a broader list of contributors was on to hand to offer its memories and observations.

I thought that the producers did a good job of highlighting the differences in personality, without distorting the truth for dramatic effect.  The relationship between the the two men was by all accounts a good deal more complex than is often made out. It seems that they were on good terms even before they reached F1, and remained so thereafter, but the maelstrom of 1976 inevitably gave rise to tensions.

It would have been good to have more of the programme devoted to the lives of the drivers in their formative racing years, but I guess that the remit of the documentary, and time limitations, dictated that the main focus would be on the dramatic season of 1976. In all honesty, there is more than enough interest and intrigue in that year to justify three hours of running time, let alone one hour.

One of the things which continues to come through in all material about him is the web of contradictions which made up James Hunt.  A highly intelligent but unconventional character, who lived life to the full.  I still think that the definitive documentary about Hunt himself has yet to be made, one which fully examines his upbringing, his relatively short but tempestuous racing career, and his later life.  More emphasis on the Hesketh years would be particularly revealing!

I was also impressed by the way in which Niki Lauda's Nurburgring accident, and his recovery from it, were handled. Again, no resorting to sensationalism or mawkishness, but some very useful and penetrating insights. Lauda's honesty and courage shone through both in the 1976 footage, and in his later recollections.

The footage in this documentary amply illustrated the crossroads or watershed which 1976 represented for the sport.  Informality was still very much in evidence, as was diversity in aesthetics and car design. At the same time, commercialism and professionalism were increasingly making their presence felt.  The Hunt/Lauda dynamic became, if quite briefly, central to these processes. The changes being undergone by F1 definitely influenced how their relationship evolved, but by the same token they themselves acted as a catalyst for the further upheavals on the horizon.

Now, I just need to get myself to the cinema to watch the "Rush" movie myself....