Can a Feature Film Help Sell A Formula One Car? Ron Howard's much talked-about Formula One racing drama, "Rush," is scheduled to hit theaters next week. But off the big screen, an auction house announced that a piece of history loosely connected to the film will be going up for sale in late October. James Hunt, the flamboyant half of the competitive duo whose relationship is portrayed in Mr. Howard's film, drove for the McLaren team in the 1976-78 Formula One seasons. Although the film focuses on the 1976 season - in which Hunt won the World Drivers" Championship - the auction's star is the 1977 McLaren M26 Hunt drove to three victories in 1977. The M23 Hunt drove to win the 1976 championship was retired by McLaren in favor of the more advanced M26 during the 1977 season. By most accounts, Hunt's first runs behind the wheel of the M26 were plagued with reliability problems, but after scoring victories in Silverstone, England, Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Fuji, Japan, he ended up fifth in points. The 1977 Japanese Grand Prix was Hunt's last win in Formula One. Subsequent seasons were less successful, and following the 1979 season he retired. He later found a new niche as a popular racing announcer for the B.B.C. Hunt died of a heart attack in 1993. The auction for the M26, which RK Motors Collector Car Auctions, the company selling the car, said is powered by a 485-horsepower Ford Cosworth DFV 90-degree V-8 and has a top speed of 195 miles per hour, will be in Charlotte, N.C., from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3. As far as advertising the history of the car's former driver goes, there aren't many better methods than a feature-length film.