Hesketh Racing were well-known for their lavish playboy style. But in 1975 they drew a different kind of attention with a shock win at Zandvoort.
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About The Dutch Grand Prix
There’s been an intimate relationship between Zandvoort and motorsports racing that goes back as far as 1939. A temporary street circuit was built and a race, organised by enthusiasts, was held that year. It was so successful that plans were laid out to build a permanent facility between the Zandvoort dunes.
Zandvoort features three steep, banked corners and an elevation difference of 8.9m (29ft). These unique features bring a combination of challenges to drivers, especially in adverse weather. In 1986, the Dutch Grand Prix disappeared from the race calendar, and wouldn’t return until 2020. The Covid pandemic delayed the circuit’s triumphant return, but in 2022 it was announced that their contract had been extended. 2026 will be the final year of Formula 1 at Zandvoort. This means that for the foreseeable future, will be the last Dutch Grand Prix. It’s bound to be a spectacle. With Max Verstappen being the sole Dutch representative on the grid, the grandstands will inevitably become a sea of orange as fans cheer their man home. It’s going to be emotional, regardless of where Verstappen finishes in the order.
There’s been some truly memorable races at Zandvoort. We’re looking back to 1975 for one of the greatest shock-wins to ever be pulled out of the bag.
The 1975 Dutch Grand Prix
From 1973 to 1978, Hesketh Racing were causing something of a murmured stir in the paddock. The British outfit was founded by Lord Alexander Hesketh (3rd Baron Hesketh) and Anthony “Bubbles” Horsley. The team became well-known for their lavish hospitality, aristocratic funding and carefree ethos. Their rivals ridiculed them, dismissing the team as nothing more than a bunch of playboys.
Roll on the 1975 season. After developing their competitive 308 series chassis, the team had evolved into a much smoother outfit. James Hunt had shown that his speed on track was not something to be taken lightly. At the 1975 Dutch Grand Prix, the hard work paid off for the team when Hunt stood proudly on the top step of the podium.
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Rainy Race Start
There was drama before the race even began. Heavy rain had brought a delay to proceedings. This saw the teams doing all they could to persuade the race organisers to let them run on wet tyres. Thankfully, they succeeded. With the track soaked from the downpour, it was lights out in Zandvoort.
The two Ferraris both spun up their rears as they tried to sprint away on the front row. Jody Scheckter stuck two wheels of his Tyrrell on the grass to pass Clay Regazzoni for second. Scheckter almost caught Niki Lauda, but the lead Ferrari finally found grip and shot up the road. The rest of the field were engulfed in the spray, trying to pick their way through treacherous conditions. Tyrrell’s Patrick Depailler collided with Vittorio Brambilla, breaking the March’s suspension and ending the Italian’s race. Brambilla managed to reverse his car into the pits and safely out of the way. Depailler was forced to limp around the circuit before coming in to replace his flat front-left tyre.
Up at the front, Lauda led the field, with the remainder of the top ten fairly spaced out behind him. The spray was causing drivers to stay a cautious distance away from the car in front of them. Carlos Reutemann and Carlos Pace were feeling punchy in their Brabhams however, slipping by the McLaren of Emerson Fittipaldi. At the back of the field, and despite the immense cloud of spray, BRM’s Bob Evans was fighting with Lella Lombardi and Wilson Fittipaldi.
Improving Conditions
As the cars completed lap after lap, the track began to dry incredibly quickly. There was a clear dry line by the time they started lap 5 – a tempting sight if you want quicker tyres. On lap 7, it was Hesketh’s James Hunt who pulled the pit stop trigger. Diving in from fourth, the team fitted slick tyres, and the Brit rejoined in 19th. He was soon followed by Jochen Mass, whilst everyone else slowly trickled in over the next few laps.
As Hunt passed the March of Fittipaldi, a flurry of activity kicked into gear at the end of lap 11 as the pace of the slicks increased with the ever-improving track conditions. There was a scary moment as a Ferrari team member wound up in the path of Ronnie Peterson’s Lotus as it left the pit box. Whilst the Lotus was undamaged, the unlucky Ferrari team member was taken to the medical tent with a broken leg.
Lauda didn’t pit until lap 13, now with Emerson Fittipaldians Jean-Pierre Jarier ahead of him. When Regazzoni brought the second Ferrari into the pits a few laps later, Hunt took the lead – there was a lot of work for Lauda to do if he wanted to reclaim the top spot. Further down the order, a sequence of retirements had started. Jacky Ickx’s Lotus limped into the pits with a blown engine, whilst the BRM of Bob Evans was forced out of the race with a drive unit failure. Jarier was also retired on lap 43, with a burst tyre sending him spinning at high speed and out of the race.
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The Final Push
In a bid to finally pass Jarier, Lauda was relying on the signature move of diving into the first corner. It took the championship leader three failed attempts before he was able to shove his way past at the start of lap 44. The drawn-out fight between Lauda and Larier had allowed Hunt to build an eight-second lead, but Lauda was now charging towards the Hesketh.
It was all eyes on the battle for the lead, with Lauda gaining ground quickly. By lap 57, the Austrian was poised for the attack. Hunt had other ideas, making a nifty pass to lap the Shadow of Tom Pryce and giving himself a temporary buffer. It was mere moments before Lauda passed the backmarker. Two laps later, Hunt made the same move again, this time putting the wounded McLaren of Jochen Mass between himself and his rival.
With the chequered flag looming ever closer, Lauda managed to get himself back up behind Hunt. Whilst the Ferrari had superior pace, Hunt was nothing if not stubborn, delivering a masterclass in defensive driving. Every move that Lauda tried, Hunt had him covered.
The battle continued to the very end, and there was some confusion for the TV directors as the captions showed there were still three laps remaining. However, the eruption of noise from the crowds in the grandstands confirmed that the race was over. It was job done for Hunt, who crossed the line to win the 1975 Dutch Grand Prix. Lauda came home in second place, just one second behind the Brit, with his teammate Regazzoni finishing third (thanks to Jody Sheckter’s Tyrrell suffering engine failure with just two laps to go).
Summary
There’s nothing sweeter than silencing your critics, and Hunt’s win certainly put paid to the opinion that there was no success to be had at Hesketh. The team had picked their page in the history books, and firmly stamped it. The 1975 Dutch Grand Prix also served as something of a preview for the epic 1976 season, where the Lauda vs Hunt chapter really got underway (albeit with Hunt moving to McLaren).
Whilst it ended up being Hesketh’s only race win, it served as a reminder that anything is possible and is bound to be remembered as one of the greatest races of all time.
Which Dutch Grand Prix do you think is a race to remember? Let us know in the comments!
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