The 1976 Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji Speedway made a grand entrance onto the Formula 1 calendar, unlike any other maiden race. It marked the thrilling conclusion of the intense rivalry between Niki Lauda of Ferrari and James Hunt of McLaren for the championship title that year.
Fuji Speedway first opened its doors in December 1965 and hosted a Formula Three race featuring Jim Clark. In October 1966, the Fuji 200 saw Jackie Stewart emerge as the winner, closely followed by Bobby Unser.
By the early 1970s, the Japanese motor industry had started to leave its mark on the global market. It was only a matter of time before the prestigious Formula 1 circus made its way to Japan.
That momentous occasion arrived on October 24, 1976, as the season’s final race. Lauda’s hopes for a consecutive championship victory had nearly been extinguished in flames during the German Grand Prix.
Lauda, who became Ferrari’s first F1 world champion since John Surtees in 1964, had a strong start to the ’76 season. He secured podium finishes in the first seven races, winning four of them. On the other hand, his rival and close friend James Hunt had endured four Did Not Finish (DNF) results and a controversial win at the Spanish Grand Prix.
After an impressive recovery, Lauda scored points in his comeback race at Monza, finishing in fourth place. As the championship contenders arrived in Japan for the season finale, Lauda still held a three-point lead over Hunt.
Due to heavy rainfall near Mount Fujiyama, the race start was delayed by several hours. However, in true Bernie Ecclestone fashion, the show had to go on to honor the commercial contracts in place.
Mario Andretti, starting from pole position, clinched victory behind the wheel of a Lotus. This win marked his first since his maiden F1 triumph in South Africa back in 1971. On the second lap, Andretti made a pit stop due to treacherous track conditions, stating that his life was more valuable than a championship title.
James Hunt, finishing in third place, was pleasantly surprised when his team informed him that he had become the new world champion. As expected, he celebrated this momentous achievement with a party that would be remembered for years to come.