News: Chris Evans snaps up James Hunt’s Formula One racer

A HESKETH Formula One car raced by James Hunt is understood to have been bought by the BBC Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans for €280,000 (£230,000) at auction in Monaco last weekend.

Hunt’s son, Freddie, 26, who is also a racing driver, revealed details of the purchase and said Evans had promised him a drive in the car once he had taken possession. James Hunt was at the wheel of the Hesketh when he won the 1974 Silverstone International Trophy race.

In other races the Hesketh — chassis number 308-01 — was less successful. It failed to finish in the 1974 British and South African Grands Prix, and was relegated to the spare car role for much of the season. Fortunate, then, for its new owner that the auction price included “an extensive offering of spares”.