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James GanleyNew Zealand racing driver
Date of Birth: 24.12.1941
Country: ![]() |
Content:
- Early Life and Career
- Formula 3 and the British Racing Motors Team
- The 24 Hours of Le Mans and Williams
- Injuries and Career End
- Tiga Race Cars
Early Life and Career
Denis Hulme, a New Zealand racing driver, was born in New Zealand. After completing his education, he briefly worked as a sports reporter. In 1961, he moved to the United Kingdom and became a mechanic at a racing school.
Formula 3 and the British Racing Motors Team
Hulme's racing career began in 1967 in Formula 3. In 1970, he became the vice-champion of the British Formula 5000 series, which led to a contract with the BRM Formula 1 team. He competed in the World Championship for BRM from 1972 to 1973, scoring nine points and finishing in the points four times.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans and Williams
In 1972, Hulme made his debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing second with Francois Cevert in a Matra-Simca MS670. The following year, he raced with Williams but only scored one point.
Injuries and Career End
At the beginning of the 1974 season, Hulme participated in two races with March. He later attempted to qualify for four races with Maki but failed. During practice for the German Grand Prix, his Maki suffered a suspension failure, causing an accident that severely injured Hulme's legs and ended his racing career.
Tiga Race Cars
Despite his injuries, Hulme co-founded Tiga Race Cars with Tim Schenken in 1974. They planned to create a Formula 1 team, but insufficient funding prevented them from carrying out the project.