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The maverick British driver James Hunt took his only Driver’s Championship in 1976, and Omologato is paying tribute to his achievement with a limited edition watch dedicated to the team that launched his F1 career.
The Hesketh Racing Chrono by Omologato marks the iconic Hesketh Racing team, which competed in F1 from 1973 to 1978. It was this car in which Hunt made his name and the one that he drove to his very first victory in the sport in 1975. The following year he went one better and challenged for the overall title in one of the most famous, dramatic and controversial championships of all time, immortalized in the 2013 film, Rush.
James Hunt drove for Hesketh for three seasons, from 1973 to 1975, and brought the team its greatest ever finish at the 1975 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort where he finished ahead of his great rival and then Championship leader, Niki Lauda. Hunt resisted immense pressure from Lauda for more than 20 laps, eventually winning by just one second.
The Hesketh Racing Chrono by Omologato honours this most unlikely of victories by a team that was the anti-establishment underdog of the paddock. The 45.5mm diameter face is finished in white with blue and white stripes that pay tribute to the F1 car running down the right-hand side. The Lord Hesketh teddy bear sits at the top of the dial, with the Union Flag and James Hunt’s number – 24 – providing the finishing touch in the centre of the face. The stainless steel watch body is paired with a 2mm black Italian grain leather strap.
Omologato founder Shami Kalra said: “James Hunt is one of the most famous and well-loved figures from F1’s history, and he is indelibly linked with the Hesketh car that he drove to his first win. This watch pays tribute to the playfulness and Britishness of the Hesketh team, who approached the sport with a refreshingly lighthearted approach. As a huge motorsport fan, I am delighted with the look of this tribute to a racing legend.”
The watch, which is limited to just 200 examples, is manufactured under license by Retro Formula One Ltd and costs £249.
