Denny Hulme info & statistics

Biography

 

Denny Hulme Biography

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Denny Hulme was the first and only F1 champion from New Zealand to date.

Born in Motueka, New Zealand, on the 18th of June of 1936, Denis Clive Hulme was not your typical Formula 1 driver with a flashy style, but he certainly showed his supreme ability behind the wheel and earned a well-deserved title in 1967.

Like the Great Jim Clark, Hulme grew up on a farm too and learned to drive with a truck at an early age. His involvement with cars started after he did various activities on his father’s farm. At age 17, he quit school and worked as a mechanic and drove around New Zealand transporting cargo. Of course, he loved racing and was eager to enter the racing world and emulate some of the best drivers of those times.

He saw Stirling Moss and other F1 drivers competing in New Zealand’s Tasman Series, which enhanced his nack for car racing.

Racing Career

The racing life began for Hulme behind the wheel of an MGTF and an MGA which was bought by his father Clive —who was a World War II hero—. His first big racing moment came when he earned the New Zealand's Driver To Europe scholarship to compete in Europe during the 1960 season together with George Lawton.

In his first season in Europe, Hulme finished third whilst driving an Envoy and a Cooper in the Campionato A.N.P.E.C./Auto Italiana d’Europa, a championship won by Colin Davis, who had previously started a couple of Formula 1 races in 1959. Hulme contested two non-championship Formula 1 events in his first year around Europe, were him and Lawton were being helped by fellow New Zealander Bruce McLaren, who was already a race winner in the pinnacle of motorsport.

Lawton tragically died in their first year in Europe, but Hulme kept going to try and find the chance to compete in Formula 1. Working as a mechanic for Jack Brabham, who already was a two-time Formula 1 champion, Hulme got to drive Brabham’s cars too.

Formula 1 Career

After racing Brabham cars in junior Formulae and in a couple of non-championship F1 events between 1963 and 1964, Hulme made his official F1 debut on the 30th of May of 1965 during the Monaco Grand Prix, which was the second race of the season.

He competed in six races in 1965 onboard Brabham-Climax cars, scoring points only twice. In the first two races of 1966, his car was equipped with Climax L4 engines and retired both times. Then, the Repco engines proved to be successful for the Brabham team as Hulme got his first podium in the 1966 French Grand Prix.

Hulme scored three other podiums as Jack Brabham achieved his third World Drivers’ Championship. The New Zealander finished fourth in the standings of 1966.

1967 F1 Championship Title

In a 1967 season dominated by Jim Clark statistically, Hulme and his teammate Brabham found a way to consistently score points and fight for the title. Hulme took the first win of his career in the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix, where he lapped all his rivals —in that race, Ferrari’s Lorenzo Bandini lost his life—.

He added another victory to his solid 1967 season with a great drive at the Nürburgring to take the 1967 German Grand Prix.

Despite Clark’s incredible velocity and possibly being the best driver of 1967, Hulme and Brabham entered the final race at Mexico as the only drivers with the chance to take the title home.

Hulme was the championship leader heading into the final race of the season and needed a top-four finish to clinch his title, while Brabham needed the victory and his teammate finishing fifth or worst.

For Sunday’s race, Clark took Pole Position while Brabham and Hulme lined up fifth and sixth respectively. In the race, Clark dominated clearly, while Brabham climbed up to second, although a minute and 25 seconds behind, which was not enough to take the WDC from Hulme, who finished third and found Formula 1 glory in his third season.

Hulme was the first of just two champions to win the title without achieving one Pole Position during the season (Niki Lauda repeated it in 1984).

He left Brabham to reunite with his friend Bruce McLaren, who had already created his own team. Hulme became the first McLaren driver different to Bruce himself. After a couple of rough seasons to start the team’s history, 1968 was solid. McLaren gave his own team its first win at the 1968 Belgian Grand Prix, then, Hulme added two more in the final stage of the season, at Italy and Canada.

For the final race of 1968 at Mexico, Hulme had a chance to win the title again as he fought Lotus’ Graham Hill and Matra’s Jackie Stewart. He qualified fourth for the race, but the title went to Hill after suspension trouble hit Hulme’s McLaren M7A and Stewart had mechanical issues too.

Although his first year alongside his friend was promising, F1 success was hard to find in the following seasons. However, in the Can-Am Series, they were truly successful, with Hulme and McLaren winning two titles each between 1967 and 1970.

Bruce McLaren died in a crash at Goodwood in the 2nd of June of 1970 at the age of 32. Denny suffered for his friend’s tragedy and started to pay attention to the dangers of racing. He ultimately retired from Formula 1 in 1974, after competing in his seventh season with the team of his beloved friend, which he gave six of its first nine wins in the pinnacle of motorsport.

Hulme’s best season for McLaren in terms of points and podiums was 1972, when he finished with 39 points, a win and six other podiums. However, he finished just third in the WDC and far behind the champion —and his future teammate in 1974— Emerson Fittipaldi.

The 1967 World Champion continued racing in various types of auto car racing long after his retirement from the top circus.

Other race series and death

Also, before and during his F1 career, he found time to compete in four editions of the Indy 500 —without success—, three 24 Hours of Le Mans with one class victory in 1961 with a Fiat-Abarth 850 S. He competed in two editions of the 24 Hours of Daytona too, but could not finish the race in those two occasions. After his retirement, he competed 10 times in Australia’s Bathurst 1.000 km race.

During the 1992 Australia’s Bathurst 1.000 km event, when he was the defending champion of his class after winning the 1991 race, ‘The Bear’ Hulme died at the wheel of his BMW due to a heart attack.

‘Probably I was lazy. I should have probably tried a lot harder. The fact that I only got one Pole Position probably proves that I can’t qualify very well, but I do enjoy racing. I enjoy racing better than the practice’.

Seasons

 

Denny Hulme Final Championship Results

1965	1966	1967	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974
11th	4th	1th	3th	6th	4th	13th	3th	6th	7th

 

Denny Hulme F1 Seasons Summary

Year	Team	Engine	GP	1st	2nd	3rd	Pod	Pole	Laps	FL	Avg Pts	Points
1974	McLaren	Ford	15	1	1	0	2	0	791	1	1.33	20
1973	McLaren	Ford	15	1	0	2	3	1	915	2	1.73	26
1972	McLaren	Ford	12	1	2	4	7	0	750	1	3.25	39
1971	McLaren McLaren	Cosworth Ford	10	0	0	0	0	0	461	1	0.90	9
1970	McLaren	Ford	11	0	1	3	4	0	665	0	2.45	27
1969	McLaren	Ford	11	1	0	1	2	0	600	0	1.82	20
1968	McLaren McLaren	BRM Ford	12	2	1	0	3	0	680	0	2.75	33
1967	Brabham	Repco	11	2	3	3	8	0	748	2	4.64	51
1966	Brabham Brabham	Climax Repco	9	0	1	3	4	0	336	1	2.00	18
1965	Brabham	Climax	6	0	0	0	0	0	291	0	0.83	5

Races

 

Denny Hulme F1 GP Race Classifications

1th	8 Times
2th	9 Times
3th	16 Times
4th	11 Times
5th	8 Times
6th	9 Times
7th	6 Times
8th	4 Times
9th	1 Time
12th	3 Times
13th	1 Time
15th	2 Times
DNF	34 Times

 

Denny Hulme F1 GP Race Results

	Year	Race	No	Team	Engine	Grid	Pos	Retired	Pts
112	1974	1974 USA Grand Prix	6	McLaren	Ford	17	DNF	Engine	0
111	1974	1974 Canadian Grand Prix	6	McLaren	Ford	14	6		1
110	1974	1974 Italian Grand Prix	6	McLaren	Ford	19	6		1
109	1974	1974 Austrian Grand Prix	6	McLaren	Ford	10	2		6
108	1974	1974 German Grand Prix	6	McLaren	Ford	7	DNF	Accident	0
107	1974	1974 British Grand Prix	6	McLaren	Ford	19	7		0
106	1974	1974 French Grand Prix	6	McLaren	Ford	11	6		1
105	1974	1974 Dutch Grand Prix	6	McLaren	Ford	9	DNF	Ignition	0
104	1974	1974 Swedish Grand Prix	6	McLaren	Ford	12	DNF	Suspension	0
103	1974	1974 Monaco Grand Prix	6	McLaren	Ford	12	DNF	Collision	0
102	1974	1974 Belgian Grand Prix	6	McLaren	Ford	12	6		1
101	1974	1974 Spanish Grand Prix	6	McLaren	Ford	8	6		1
100	1974	1974 South African Grand Prix	6	McLaren	Ford	9	9		0
99	1974	1974 Brazilian Grand Prix	6	McLaren	Ford	11	12		0
98	1974	1974 Argentine Grand Prix	6	McLaren	Ford	10	1		9
97	1973	1973 USA Grand Prix	7	McLaren	Ford	8	4		3
96	1973	1973 Canadian Grand Prix	7	McLaren	Ford	7	13		0
95	1973	1973 Italian Grand Prix	7	McLaren	Ford	3	15		0
94	1973	1973 Austrian Grand Prix	7	McLaren	Ford	3	8		0
93	1973	1973 German Grand Prix	7	McLaren	Ford	8	12		0
92	1973	1973 Dutch Grand Prix	7	McLaren	Ford	4	DNF	Engine	0
91	1973	1973 British Grand Prix	7	McLaren	Ford	2	3		4
90	1973	1973 French Grand Prix	7	McLaren	Ford	6	8		0
89	1973	1973 Swedish Grand Prix	7	McLaren	Ford	6	1		9
88	1973	1973 Monaco Grand Prix	7	McLaren	Ford	3	6		1
87	1973	1973 Belgian Grand Prix	7	McLaren	Ford	2	7		0
86	1973	1973 Spanish Grand Prix	5	McLaren	Ford	2	6		1
85	1973	1973 South African Grand Prix	5	McLaren	Ford	1	5		2
84	1973	1973 Brazilian Grand Prix	7	McLaren	Ford	5	3		4
83	1973	1973 Argentine Grand Prix	14	McLaren	Ford	8	5		2
82	1972	1972 USA Grand Prix	19	McLaren	Ford	3	3		4
81	1972	1972 Canadian Grand Prix	18	McLaren	Ford	2	3		4
80	1972	1972 Italian Grand Prix	14	McLaren	Ford	5	3		4
79	1972	1972 Austrian Grand Prix	12	McLaren	Ford	7	2		6
78	1972	1972 German Grand Prix	3	McLaren	Ford	10	DNF	Engine	0
77	1972	1972 British Grand Prix	18	McLaren	Ford	11	5		2
76	1972	1972 French Grand Prix	2	McLaren	Ford	2	7		0
75	1972	1972 Belgian Grand Prix	9	McLaren	Ford	3	3		4
74	1972	1972 Monaco Grand Prix	14	McLaren	Ford	7	15		0
73	1972	1972 Spanish Grand Prix	11	McLaren	Ford	2	DNF	Gearbox	0
72	1972	1972 South African Grand Prix	12	McLaren	Ford	5	1		9
71	1972	1972 Argentine Grand Prix	17	McLaren	Ford	4	2		6
70	1971	1971 USA Grand Prix	7	McLaren	Ford	3	DNF	Accident	0
69	1971	1971 Canadian Grand Prix	9	McLaren	Ford	10	4		3
68	1971	1971 Austrian Grand Prix	9	McLaren	Ford	9	DNF	Engine	0
67	1971	1971 German Grand Prix	18	McLaren	Ford	6	DNF	Fuel Leak	0
66	1971	1971 British Grand Prix	9	McLaren	Ford	8	DNF	Engine	0
65	1971	1971 French Grand Prix	9	McLaren	Ford	11	DNF	Ignition	0
64	1971	1971 Dutch Grand Prix	26	McLaren	Ford	14	12		0
63	1971	1971 Monaco Grand Prix	9	McLaren	Ford	6	4		3
62	1971	1971 Spanish Grand Prix	9	McLaren	Ford	9	5		2
61	1971	1971 South African Grand Prix	11	McLaren	Cosworth	7	6		1
60	1970	1970 Mexican Grand Prix	8	McLaren	Ford	14	3		4
59	1970	1970 USA Grand Prix	8	McLaren	Ford	11	7		0
58	1970	1970 Canadian Grand Prix	5	McLaren	Ford	15	DNF	Engine	0
57	1970	1970 Italian Grand Prix	30	McLaren	Ford	9	4		3
56	1970	1970 Austrian Grand Prix	21	McLaren	Ford	11	DNF	Engine	0
55	1970	1970 German Grand Prix	4	McLaren	Ford	16	3		4
54	1970	1970 British Grand Prix	9	McLaren	Ford	5	3		4
53	1970	1970 French Grand Prix	19	McLaren	Ford	7	4		3
52	1970	1970 Monaco Grand Prix	11	McLaren	Ford	3	4		3
51	1970	1970 Spanish Grand Prix	5	McLaren	Ford	2	DNF	Ignition	0
50	1970	1970 South African Grand Prix	6	McLaren	Ford	6	2		6
49	1969	1969 Mexican Grand Prix	5	McLaren	Ford	4	1		9
48	1969	1969 USA Grand Prix	5	McLaren	Ford	2	DNF	Gearbox	0
47	1969	1969 Canadian Grand Prix	5	McLaren	Ford	5	DNF	Distributor	0
46	1969	1969 Italian Grand Prix	16	McLaren	Ford	2	7		0
45	1969	1969 German Grand Prix	9	McLaren	Ford	5	DNF	Transmission	0
44	1969	1969 British Grand Prix	5	McLaren	Ford	3	DNF	Ignition	0
43	1969	1969 French Grand Prix	4	McLaren	Ford	2	8		0
42	1969	1969 Dutch Grand Prix	7	McLaren	Ford	7	4		3
41	1969	1969 Monaco Grand Prix	3	McLaren	Ford	12	6		1
40	1969	1969 Spanish Grand Prix	5	McLaren	Ford	8	4		3
39	1969	1969 South African Grand Prix	5	McLaren	Ford	3	3		4
38	1968	1968 Mexican Grand Prix	1	McLaren	Ford	4	DNF	Suspension	0
37	1968	1968 USA Grand Prix	1	McLaren	Ford	5	DNF	Accident	0
36	1968	1968 Canadian Grand Prix	1	McLaren	Ford	6	1		9
35	1968	1968 Italian Grand Prix	1	McLaren	Ford	7	1		9
34	1968	1968 German Grand Prix	1	McLaren	Ford	11	7		0
33	1968	1968 British Grand Prix	1	McLaren	Ford	11	4		3
32	1968	1968 French Grand Prix	8	McLaren	Ford	4	5		2
31	1968	1968 Dutch Grand Prix	1	McLaren	Ford	7	DNF	Ignition	0
30	1968	1968 Belgian Grand Prix	6	McLaren	Ford	5	DNF	Halfshaft	0
29	1968	1968 Monaco Grand Prix	12	McLaren	Ford	10	5		2
28	1968	1968 Spanish Grand Prix	1	McLaren	Ford	3	2		6
27	1968	1968 South African Grand Prix	1	McLaren	BRM	9	5		2
26	1967	1967 Mexican Grand Prix	2	Brabham	Repco	6	3		4
25	1967	1967 USA Grand Prix	2	Brabham	Repco	6	3		4
24	1967	1967 Italian Grand Prix	18	Brabham	Repco	6	DNF	Overheating	0
23	1967	1967 Canadian Grand Prix	2	Brabham	Repco	3	2		6
22	1967	1967 German Grand Prix	2	Brabham	Repco	2	1		9
21	1967	1967 British Grand Prix	2	Brabham	Repco	4	2		6
20	1967	1967 French Grand Prix	4	Brabham	Repco	6	2		6
19	1967	1967 Belgian Grand Prix	26	Brabham	Repco	14	DNF	Engine	0
18	1967	1967 Dutch Grand Prix	2	Brabham	Repco	7	3		4
17	1967	1967 Monaco Grand Prix	9	Brabham	Repco	4	1		9
16	1967	1967 South African Grand Prix	2	Brabham	Repco	2	4		3
15	1966	1966 Mexican Grand Prix	6	Brabham	Repco	6	3		4
14	1966	1966 USA Grand Prix	6	Brabham	Repco	7	DNF	Engine	0
13	1966	1966 Italian Grand Prix	12	Brabham	Repco	10	3		4
12	1966	1966 German Grand Prix	4	Brabham	Repco	15	DNF	Ignition	0
11	1966	1966 Dutch Grand Prix	18	Brabham	Repco	2	DNF	Ignition	0
10	1966	1966 British Grand Prix	6	Brabham	Repco	2	2		6
9	1966	1966 French Grand Prix	14	Brabham	Repco	9	3		4
8	1966	1966 Belgian Grand Prix	4	Brabham	Climax	13	DNF	Accident	0
7	1966	1966 Monaco Grand Prix	8	Brabham	Climax	6	DNF	Transmission	0
6	1965	1965 Italian Grand Prix	14	Brabham	Climax	12	DNF	Suspension	0
5	1965	1965 German Grand Prix	6	Brabham	Climax	13	DNF	Fuel Leak	0
4	1965	1965 Dutch Grand Prix	14	Brabham	Climax	7	5		2
3	1965	1965 British Grand Prix	14	Brabham	Climax	10	DNF	Alternator	0
2	1965	1965 French Grand Prix	16	Brabham	Climax	6	4		3
1	1965	1965 Monaco Grand Prix	2	Brabham	Climax	8	8		0

Podiums

 

Denny Hulme F1 Podium Finishes

	Year	Race	No	Team	Engine	Grid	Pos	Retired	Pts
19	1967	1967 Canadian Grand Prix	10	Eagle	Weslake	5	3		4
18	1967	1967 Belgian Grand Prix	36	Eagle	Weslake	2	1		9
17	1965	1965 Mexican Grand Prix	8	Brabham	Climax	2	2		6
16	1965	1965 USA Grand Prix	8	Brabham	Climax	8	2		6
15	1965	1965 Italian Grand Prix	12	Brabham	Climax	9	3		4
14	1965	1965 German Grand Prix	5	Brabham	Climax	5	3		4
13	1965	1965 Dutch Grand Prix	16	Brabham	Climax	5	3		4
12	1964	1964 Mexican Grand Prix	6	Brabham	Climax	2	1		9
11	1964	1964 French Grand Prix	22	Brabham	Climax	2	1		9
10	1963	1963 South African Grand Prix	9	Brabham	Climax	3	2		6
9	1963	1963 Dutch Grand Prix	18	Brabham	Climax	14	2		6
8	1963	1963 Belgian Grand Prix	18	Brabham	Climax	2	3		4
7	1962	1962 German Grand Prix	7	Porsche	Porsche	1	3		4
6	1962	1962 French Grand Prix	30	Porsche	Porsche	6	1		9
5	1961	1961 USA Grand Prix	12	Porsche	Porsche	7	2		6
4	1961	1961 Italian Grand Prix	46	Porsche	Porsche	12	2		6
3	1961	1961 French Grand Prix	12	Porsche	Porsche	5	2		6
2	1959	1959 Portuguese Grand Prix	16	Ferrari	Ferrari	6	3		4
1	1959	1959 German Grand Prix	6	Ferrari	Ferrari	3	2		6

Poles

 

Denny Hulme F1 Pole Positions

	Year	Race	No	Team	Engine	Grid	Pos	Retired	Pts
3	1964	1964 Belgian Grand Prix	15	Brabham	Climax	1	6	Out of Fuel	1
2	1964	1964 Dutch Grand Prix	16	Brabham	Climax	1	DNF	Steering	0
1	1962	1962 German Grand Prix	7	Porsche	Porsche	1	3		4

Comparison

 

Denny Hulme Teammate Comparison

Season	Team	Team Mate	Best Pos		Points		Wins		Poles		Position		Qualifying
1965	Brabham	Bob Anderson	4	9	5	0	0	0	0	0	3	1	4	0
		Dan Gurney	4	3	5	13	0	0	0	0	1	4	0	5
		Frank Gardner	5	8	2	0	0	0	0	0	4	1	5	0
		Giancarlo Baghetti	15	22	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
		Ian Raby	15	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2	0
		Jack Brabham	8	5	0	2	0	0	0	0	2	1	1	2
		Jo Bonnier	4	7	5	0	0	0	0	0	2	4	5	1
		Jo Siffert	4	6	5	2	0	0	0	0	3	3	4	2
1966	Brabham	Bob Anderson	2	6	14	1	0	0	0	0	5	1	5	1
		Chris Amon	3	22	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
		Chris Irwin	2	7	6	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
		Jack Brabham	2	1	18	45	0	4	0	3	1	8	1	8
		Jo Bonnier	2	12	10	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	0
		Jo Siffert	14	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0
		John Taylor	2	6	10	1	0	0	0	0	3	1	4	0
1967	Brabham	Alan Rees	1	7	9	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
		Bob Anderson	1	5	28	2	1	0	0	0	5	1	6	0
		Dave Charlton	4	7	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
		Gerhard Mitter	1	25	9	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
		Guy Ligier	1	8	23	1	1	0	0	0	5	0	5	0
		Jack Brabham	1	1	51	48	2	2	0	2	5	6	2	9
		Luki Botha	4	8	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
1968	McLaren	Bruce McLaren	1	1	31	22	2	1	0	0	7	4	8	3
		Dan Gurney	1	4	9	3	1	0	0	0	1	2	2	1
		Jo Bonnier	1	6	21	1	2	0	0	0	5	1	6	0
1969	McLaren	Basil van Rooyen	3	18	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
		Bruce McLaren	1	2	20	26	1	0	0	0	4	8	10	2
		Derek Bell	13	16	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
		Vic Elford	4	5	3	3	0	0	0	0	2	2	4	0
1970	McLaren	Andrea de Adamich	3	8	17	0	0	0	0	0	7	2	8	1
		Bruce McLaren	2	2	9	6	0	0	0	0	2	1	3	0
		Dan Gurney	3	6	7	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	0
		Jo Bonnier	4	19	3	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	0
		John Surtees	2	6	9	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	3	0
		Nanni Galli	4	26	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
		Peter Gethin	3	6	11	1	0	0	0	0	4	2	4	2
1971	McLaren	David Hobbs	22	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0
		Jackie Oliver	19	9	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2	0
		Jo Bonnier	6	16	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	1	4	0
		Mark Donohue	4	3	3	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
		Peter Gethin	4	8	6	0	0	0	0	0	4	3	6	1
1972	McLaren	Brian Redman	7	5	0	4	0	0	0	0	1	2	3	0
		Jody Scheckter	3	9	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
		Peter Revson	1	2	39	23	1	0	0	1	6	3	4	5
1973	McLaren	Jacky Ickx	12	3	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
		Jody Scheckter	3	9	9	0	0	0	1	0	5	0	3	2
		Peter Revson	1	1	26	38	1	2	1	0	6	8	10	4
1974	McLaren	Dave Charlton	9	19	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
		David Hobbs	2	7	7	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	0
		Emerson Fittipaldi	1	1	20	55	1	3	0	2	3	12	1	14
		Jochen Mass	6	7	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	1
		Mike Hailwood	1	3	12	12	1	0	0	0	6	5	4	7