AUTOSPORT relives the great races of the past. Japan 1976: Hunt's brilliance brings him a deserved world championship – Andretti starts on pole and wins – Lauda withdraws because of weather conditions – Depailler puts in another great display

Now we know he did win the British GP. Safe by one point, James Hunt is our new world champion. That's really the only one of the incredible results of the incredible Japanese Grand Prix that counts. All the rest makes good reading, but Hunt pulled it off!

Practice was good, dry and untroubled, and the grid was an honest reflection of the potential. It showed Mario Andretti on pole narrowly from Hunt, with Lauda well within striking distance and certainly in points-earning form.

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