1976 Hesketh 308D - Donington Grand Prix Museum, Leicestershire - Wikipedia Entries on Waymarking.com

A Hesketh 308D Formula One car of 1976, with large painted Penthouse Pet, apparently initially painted topless, but the Rizla packet was added for decency! In the Donington Grand Prix Collection.

"Hesketh Racing was a Formula One constructor from the United Kingdom, which competed from 1973 to 1978. The team competed in 52 World Championship Grands Prix, winning one and achieving eight further podium finishes. Its best placing in the World Constructors' Championship was fourth in 1975. Hesketh was notable for giving James Hunt his Formula One debut and he brought the team most of its success. Alan Jones also began his Formula One career in a privately entered Hesketh.

Englishman Lord Hesketh, in partnership with Anthony 'Bubbles' Horsley as driver, entered various Formula Three events around Europe in 1972, with the mission objective simply to have as much fun as possible. Due partly Horsley's lack of experience, there were few results.

Hesketh subsequently employed James Hunt, who had a reputation for being very fast, but also for writing off cars, and who, at the time, was unemployed. Hesketh took on Hunt as one of his drivers for F3.

The Hesketh team had a growing reputation for their playboy style, arriving at races in Rolls-Royce cars, drinking champagne regardless of their results, and checking the entire team into five-star hotels. The team even had a patch specially made for Hunt's driving suit which read: "Sex - The Breakfast of Champions".

By the middle of the season Hunt and Horsley had written off both of the team's Formula Three cars. Horsley decided to leave the cockpit, switching to the team's management. Hesketh rented a Formula Two March for the rest of 1972, and bought Hunt a Surtees Formula Two car for 1973. Hunt then promptly wrote the car off at the Pau Grand Prix, and in typical style, Hesketh worked out that the cost involved in competing in the top flight was hardly more expensive than F2, and decided to move the team up to Formula One.

Post James Hunt era -

In late 1975 Lord Hesketh announced he could no longer afford to try to produce the next British world champion, having raced without sponsorship, and ended the team. Hunt was offered the lead drive at McLaren, replacing Emerson Fittipaldi.

The Hesketh name would live on in Formula One, although in less glamorous circumstances. First, Postlethwaite took his upgraded 308C design to Wolf-Williams Racing. Then Horsley upgraded the 308 to the 308D and continued as Hesketh Racing. Harald Ertl signed to drive the car, with the team's image landing Penthouse Magazine and Rizla as sponsors. Guy Edwards joined in a second car from the Belgian Grand Prix onwards with Alex Ribeiro bringing in some funds later in the year. Ertl's seventh place at the British Grand Prix was the team's best result of the year."

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