http://www.caranddri...ary-niki-lauda/
Edited by Jack-the-Lad, 21 May 2019 - 01:42.
Posted 21 May 2019 - 01:37
Edited by Jack-the-Lad, 21 May 2019 - 01:42.
Posted 21 May 2019 - 04:01
What drives me crazy is the amount of talking that goes on. I like to make my life simple. I get straight to the point. If it's my mistake, it's my mistake.
Posted 21 May 2019 - 04:27
Very sad news.
R.I.P Niki
Posted 21 May 2019 - 04:29
Posted 21 May 2019 - 05:04
I have said on here before that I don't do heroes - but , if I did, mine would be Niki Lauda . The smartest and toughest of them all, and nobody I have ever heard could change gear like he could . Lost for more words - normally when people I've never met die I am immune from feeling much at all but not now . No platitudes , just a huge gap.
Posted 21 May 2019 - 05:06
One of the very best, they don't make them like him anymore. Rest in peace Niki and thank you for all the memories.
Posted 21 May 2019 - 05:12
Posted 21 May 2019 - 05:22
Posted 21 May 2019 - 05:24
Posted 21 May 2019 - 06:18
Posted 21 May 2019 - 06:23
The death of one's heroes is always a shock, even when it's not unexpected; Niki had been very ill for some time but we have got used to his almost superhuman powers of recovery and resilience. His ability to come back from the brink - in so many ways - always gave hope that he would beat his last illness too. Sadly it was not to be the case....
For those with little more than a passing interest in the history of Formula One motor racing, Niki Lauda is the man who survived a near-fatal conflagration at the Nürburgring in 1976 and came back to win the World Championship a year later, having lost out to James Hunt following the accident. Those concerned with the history of the sport in a little more depth know of him as the teenager who started racing against the wishes of his family, bought his way into a March works drive, blagged his way into BRM and having shown his mettle there, got the call from Ferrari just when things at Maranello were on the up and was able to shape a winning team around him. The man who turned his back on the Scuderia much as Enzo Ferrari had done to him after the accident, who went to Brabham in a big-money deal with Bernie Ecclestone, who then summarily walked away from the sport after finding himself bored with "driving round in circles" and went off to run his own airline. The same man who two years later came out of retirement to win his third race back and went on to take a third world title before retiring for good, but who stayed close to the sport with roles as a TV presenter and a team principal.
But a closer analysis of Lauda's career on a race-by-race basis reveals a lot more than this. It shows a man who was always fiercely assured of his own capabilities, but who from the earliest days had a level of self-control and racecraft that would epitomise his career. A man with a well-developed awareness of the sport's risks - he got out of Formula 3 in the last year of its "screamer" era as he found it inhabited by madmen - but who was as quick as anyone on the great unsanitised road circuits at Spa, Brno and the Nürburgring (it should be remembered that he holds the outright F1 and Touring Car lap records for the Nordschleife). A versatile all-rounder who won hillclimbs on the alpine mountains; grass-roots "Flugplatzrennen" on concrete airfields; who competed successfully in Group 6 sport prototypes and who was acknowledged as one of the best Touring Car drivers of his day. A man who as a Formula 2 (and later Formula 1) driver had to measure himself against a team-mate who was regarded at the time as the fastest in the business - Ronnie Peterson - and who emerged intact and with a reputation as a great test and development driver. A man who when he arrived at Ferrari was the youngest regular Grand Prix driver of the day. A man who in 1977 managed to wring a World Championship from a far-from front-running machine. And a man who whilst enduring a season in one of the least-reliable F1 cars of his career had the motivation and competitiveness in more equal machinery to win the concurrent Procar Championship.
Much can be said of a driver who wins races and championships with the best equipment of the day placed at his disposal, but there are many who consider that the mark of true greatness is on those who are victorious in inferior cars. There is little doubt that the 1977 Ferrari 312T2 was no more than the fifth-best car that year, yet Lauda still managed to deliver three Grand Prix victories and the World Championship with it. Equally, his world title in 1984 was a triumph of experience, mechanical sympathy, guile and strategy over a younger, quicker team-mate who had yet to hone his own racecraft to the level that the Austrian had long-since developed.
His (sometimes brutal) honesty and undoubted integrity will be missed hugely. The word "legend" is bandied-about freely these days, more often than not without justification, but Niki Lauda truly was - and remains - a Legend.
Condolences to all who knew him, respected him and loved him - RIP Niki.
Edited by Jon Saltinstall, 21 May 2019 - 06:24.
Posted 21 May 2019 - 06:23
Posted 21 May 2019 - 06:42
Posted 21 May 2019 - 07:13
Dear Niki,
Thank you.
RIP
Posted 21 May 2019 - 07:13
I feared for him back in '76 - and have feared for him several times since - and most certainly in recent months.
This morning's news is terrible - but sadly not unexpected.
Yet Niki was just too young for it all to end like this. He wasn't always right - his views not always justified - but if you asked him an opinion the response would be precise, to the point and honestly held, most of the time. Despite his bluntness he could be a manipulative politician when he felt so inclined - yet above all he was a genuine 24-carat fearless Hero. And rightly he will be remembered as that.
He also shone in the aftermath of the devastating Lauda Air disaster over Thailand in May 1991 - when his airline's Boeing 767 broke up after its port engine's thrust reverser deployed in mid-flight, pitching the aircraft into a spin which killed all 223 on board. As company principal he not only did more than might have been expected for the bereaved families, he also pursued Boeing relentlessly to do more than be evasive about the cause (which ironically sounds quite familiar right now). For more detail on that - and upon his fearlessly objective follow-up - take a look at https://en.wikipedia..._Air_Flight_004...
And back in the winter of 1972-73, when he first joined BRM, virtually his opening remarks to the mechanics were devastatingly honest, accurate, combative and - typically - to the point:
"You all sink I am just a vanker - but vun day I vill be Vorld Champion!".
And after winning the 1984 French GP at Dijon in the McLaren-TAG Turbo, he memorably began the post-race press conference like this:
"Today car good - engine good - Lauda good! Any Kvestchuns?"...
As I have said - a solid-gold Hero. RIP...and all thoughts with his extended family, and many friends...and many more admirers.
DCN
Edited by Doug Nye, 21 May 2019 - 18:34.
Posted 21 May 2019 - 07:42
Despite the serious news we heard back in August last year I guess most of us expected to eventually see him back in the Mercedes pit, as he somehow seemed indestructible.
RIP Niki
Posted 21 May 2019 - 08:04
Shocked to read this news, RIP.
To add to Doug's post, as an illustration to his character (no more need saying about his driving) is this excellent interview (and many more videos from the same interview on YT)
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Posted 21 May 2019 - 08:11
Not much to add to Jon's and Doug's obituaries, thank you guys.
I loved his straight no-nonsense talking and local humour. He played the game with the Boandlkramer in 1976 and kept him at bay for 43 years. Not a mean feat.
RIP Niki
Posted 21 May 2019 - 08:17
Posted 21 May 2019 - 08:19
Sad news.
Posted 21 May 2019 - 09:18
RIP Niki.
Condolences to family and friends.
There will never be another like him, love him or loathe him.
Posted 21 May 2019 - 09:20
He brought me to the sport, he was the first I saw in action in F1, he inspired until this day (and many days come), he withstood the flames and fumes, Enzo, BCE, RD, Boeing, Austrian Airlines, many authorities, etc. To the point off, fair on track. He will be missed. RIP
Edited by Arjan de Roos, 21 May 2019 - 09:21.
Posted 21 May 2019 - 09:23
Posted 21 May 2019 - 09:34
Further to Doug Nye's "car good" quote the one I will always remember is on where he didn't win " car sh*t, tyres no good , waste of time" - I hope the first two are in the right order!
A truly great driver and person, whether they loved or loathed him at the time everybody held him in utter respect.
ps when I first posted this the site editing tools replaced my sh etc with ****, I fully understand why but I think that PC process would have amused Mr Lauda!
Edited by mariner, 21 May 2019 - 09:37.
Posted 21 May 2019 - 09:35
Posted 21 May 2019 - 09:46
RIP Niki - condolences to family and friends. Huge loss to F1 and motorsport in general.
Posted 21 May 2019 - 10:04
Such sad news that Niki has gone, but wonderful that he survived nearly 43 years longer than we expected.
You gave us so many good memories; the excitement of 1973 and 1974, and the deserved success of 1975 are etched vividly in my mind.
RIP Niki, and condolences to all your family and friends.
Posted 21 May 2019 - 10:05
RIP Niki - condolences to family and friends. Huge loss to F1 and motorsport in general.
Lovely photo, thanks Lindsay - "sticker" tyres and all. Adds further poignancy as this image could perhaps be called "Last Time Out..."
Edited by Jon Saltinstall, 21 May 2019 - 10:16.
Posted 21 May 2019 - 10:23
Posted 21 May 2019 - 10:28
Lovely photo, thanks Lindsay - "sticker" tyres and all. Adds further poignancy as this image could perhaps be called "Last Time Out..."
Literally "Last Time Out". His exit from the race and F1 driving.
How refreshing were his interviews with the SKY/Foxtel commentators over the last few years? No PR spin, just and honest opinion, so rare in all walks of life these days.
Posted 21 May 2019 - 10:34
One of the REAL charachters in this sport left the arena! So sad!
Probably the last victim of the active old Nürburgring.
R.I.P. Niki...and say Hello to James!
JoBo
Posted 21 May 2019 - 10:41
I remember watching him lead the pack at the 1973 Canadian GP and thinking to myself, "this guy is very very good".
RIP Niki
Posted 21 May 2019 - 10:44
I felt like I stood in a grand cathedral just being in his presence. He looked up timidly, as if expecting that I was yet another staring at his battle wounds, so I focused hard on not doing that like so many others must have. We all know he could have afforded reconstruction, my take was him thinking "If you can't accept me like this, I don't care to know you anyway."
I've wondered ever since if that impression was correct, or merely the wanderings of a teenaged mind. It's only been over these past few years that I'm evermore convinced I may have been right.
From what I've read, I think you were - IIRC that he didn't see the point in having extra surgery, with the associated risk, purely for aesthetic reasons.
Posted 21 May 2019 - 10:50
I feared for him back in '76...
Thanks Doug - you've confirmed many of my own impressions of the man. In recent seasons there have been a few instances where I've disagreed with his views on certain incidents, but I've always taken the view that his views were backed by experience, and therefore deserved respect.
Edited by cpbell, 21 May 2019 - 10:55.
Posted 21 May 2019 - 11:05
R.I.P. Niki...and say Hello to James!
JoBo
A Sutton Images picture, taken at Zolder in 1977, from a gallery published on The Guardian:
Posted 21 May 2019 - 11:22
RIP Niki, it's telling that the sky is so cloudy today. Thank you, farewell, and have fun racing all the other legends up there.
Posted 21 May 2019 - 11:24
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Posted 21 May 2019 - 12:36
So sad, not surprising, but still shocking. I guess we really are all mortal after all.
Niki Lauda was my boyhood hero from the day in September 1973 when I spotted him sitting on his own in the tower at Mosport. I approached him very shyly and asked if I could take his photo with my Instamatic. His response was very friendly, he smiled for my photo, gave me an autograph and treated me with more kindness than his subsequent reputation for brusqueness would lead one to expect.
That afternoon, he tore away from the pack and disappeared into a distant lead until the drying track reminded everyone that he was in a BRM. That race marked him as very special to many, but for this 12-year-old boy that recognition had come a few hours earlier.
Posted 21 May 2019 - 12:44
but for this 12-year-old boy that recognition had come a few hours earlier.
fabulous memories.......................so precious
Posted 21 May 2019 - 13:05
First sight of Niki was in F3, cornering fast through Paddock at Brands - backwards. Mooched around Adenau village in '76 trying to understand the newspaper stories, not expecting him to survive. Yet through the recent major surgery and illnesses, didn't expect him to die. There's a long list of things we'll miss, but I'll highlight one: that rascally humour.
Posted 21 May 2019 - 13:39
RIP Niki, it's telling that the sky is so cloudy today. Thank you, farewell, and have fun racing all the other legends up there.
Posted 21 May 2019 - 14:04
What can I say? Farewell to "The Rat". RIP
Posted 21 May 2019 - 14:49
I just don't know what to say, i've been filling up on and off all day since hearing the news, and one or two tears have leaked out
God bless you Niki and thanks for the memories.
Posted 21 May 2019 - 15:40
What can one say, a great loss, I hoped "Super Rat" would win this last challenge.
Sterzo's comment (post 42) "a rascally humour" made me look on my computer for three images that fit, one of him in Hugo Boss outlet in a jacket and shirt, socks and shoes, but he's in his smalls ! another on tire swing, and one of him I believe in the harbour in Copenhagen, with his hand on the bottom of the little mermaid !
Can't post images here, otherwise would do so.
Michael
Edited by group7, 21 May 2019 - 15:41.
Posted 21 May 2019 - 16:31
RIP Niki!
Posted 21 May 2019 - 18:04
Today's BRDC notice concerning Niki:
The British Racing Drivers’ Club joins the world of motor racing in mourning the loss of one of its outstanding personalities and greatest champions Andreas-Nikolaus ‘Niki’ Lauda who passed away yesterday at the age of 70 after a long battle with lung and kidney disease. A triple Formula 1 World Champion – with Ferrari in 1975 and 1977 and McLaren in 1984 – Niki Lauda’s extraordinary career included some remarkable comebacks, in 1976 from an almost fatal accident at the Nurburgring during the German Grand Prix, and from self-imposed retirement in 1982. Niki became an Honorary Member of the BRDC in 1975, the year of his first world championship success, and was awarded a Gold Star in 1984 after his third world title.
Born in Vienna, Niki Lauda’s early career in national races did not really hint at what lay ahead. After an unexceptional Formula 3 season in 1970, Niki scraped together enough financial support to join the March Formula 2 team alongside Swedish superstar Ronnie Peterson. Ronnie won the European Championship but Niki struggled, his best result being second to Ronnie in his heat and fourth in the final on the Rouen road circuit. He made his Formula 1 debut in his home Grand Prix at the Osterreichring in a third works March 711, retiring with handling problems. Undaunted Niki somehow found the funding for a full F1 season with March in 1972 only for each version of the 721 to be uncompetitive and unreliable even with Ronnie at the wheel. Niki’s best result was seventh in the South African Grand Prix, a place for which no points were awarded in those days. Fortunately the F2 March 722 was a much better proposition, enabling Niki to win the British Formula 2 Championship including victory in the opening round at Oulton Park, whilst he was fifth in the European series.
The following year saw a split with March and Niki talked his way into the BRM team which by 1973 was past its best. There were now flashes of what was to come as Niki took his Marlboro-liveried P160 to fifth place in the Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder, and made a lasting impression on the Silverstone spectators in the opening laps of the British Grand Prix by charging round in second and third places behind Ronnie Peterson and Jackie Stewart. Like most races that year, it ended in retirement but Niki had impressed enough to be placed ninth in the annual Autocourse ratings with the prescient comment ‘If Ferrari produce a competitive car for 1974 there is no doubt who will prove the team’s consistently quicker driver’. Joined at the Scuderia by his 1973 BRM team mate, and former Ferrari favourite, Clay Regazzoni, Niki’s determination and commitment working in conjunction with new team principal Luca de Montezemolo, brought Ferrari back to competitiveness, Niki winning the Spanish and Dutch GPs and finishing fourth in the World Championship.
In the early races of 1975, Niki had to make do with the previous year’s Ferrari 312B3. However, armed with the new 312T Niki won race after race, starting with the BRDC Daily Express International Trophy at Silverstone (the last F1 race to be held on the ‘pre-Woodcote chicane’ version of the Grand Prix circuit) followed by the Grands Prix of Monaco, Belgium, Sweden, France and the USA. It was only the inspired brilliance of James Hunt in the Hesketh 308 which marginally deprived Niki of victory in the Dutch Grand Prix. With his first world title secured, Niki locked horns with James Hunt, now at McLaren, for the 1976 championship. Victories in Brazil, South Africa, Belgium, Monaco and, controversially, in the British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch, plus second place with broken ribs in the Spanish GP, gave him a commanding lead in the title race before the German Grand Prix, the last to be held on the Nurburgring Nordschleife. Early in the German race Niki’s Ferrari crashed very heavily and instantly caught fire. The bravery of other drivers, in particular Guy Edwards, Brett Lunger, Arturo Merzario and the late Harald Ertl, enabled Niki to be released from the inferno, badly burned and with damaged lungs from smoke inhalation. In hospital he received the last rites but he recovered sufficiently, if far from completely, to be back on the grid for the Italian Grand Prix less than six weeks later to finish in an amazing and extraordinarily courageous fourth place. At Watkins Glen in the US GP East he finished third and the battle with James Hunt for the title went right down to the wire in the rain of Japan’s Mount Fuji where Niki retired and James famously took the title by one point.
Determined to show Enzo Ferrari that it was wrong to think of replacing him with Carlos Reutemann, Niki stayed with the Scuderia for 1977, won the South African, German and Dutch Grands Prix, finished second in six others, and won his second world championship. Having proved his point, Niki left Ferrari for Bernie Ecclestone’s Brabham team whose Alfa Romeo-powered cars were quick but fragile. Niki won in Sweden with the notoriously clever BT46B ‘fan car’ and also at Monza after Mario Andretti and Gilles Villeneuve had been penalised for jumping the start. Fourth in the World Championship was his reward. The following year was beset by problems with the Brabham-Alfa, fourth at Monza being one of only two race finishes. Gordon Murray’s new creation, the Cosworth DFV-powered BT49 arrived in time for the Canadian Grand Prix and promised much, but during the first practice session Niki decided that he no longer enjoyed ‘driving round in circles’ and announced his retirement with immediate effect.
Just over two years later, Niki was enticed back into Formula 1 by Ron Dennis for four more seasons at the highest level. In 1982 with the Cosworth DFV-powered McLaren MP4B Niki won at Long Beach and Brands Hatch to finish fifth in the Championship behind team mate John Watson who took second. As the turbo era began, McLaren persevered with its Cosworth DFV engines but only twice did Niki finish on the podium in a season littered with retirements. He finished 10th in the Championship, again with John Watson ahead of him in sixth place. McLaren chose to replace Wattie with Alain Prost as it entered the turbo era with the Porsche-built TAG engine in 1984 but it was Niki who took the title by just half a point from Alain in a nail biting finale at Estoril in the Portuguese Grand Prix. He had won the South African, French, British, Austrian and Italian GPs and would win one more at Zandvoort, the highlight of an otherwise low key final season in 1985. In total Niki won 25 World Championship Grands Prix plus non-championship races at Silverstone in 1975 and Imola in 1979. He was on pole position on 24 occasions and also set fastest lap 24 times.
Between leaving Brabham and joining McLaren Niki built up one of Austria’s leading airlines, Lauda Air employing some 550 people with a turnover of £40 million. One of Lauda Air’s Boeing 767s crashed in Thailand in 1991 which deeply affected Niki and he eventually sold the airline to Austrian Airlines in 2000. He returned to Formula 1, initially as a consultant for Scuderia Ferrari before a less than satisfactory period with Jaguar Racing in 2001/2002. Subsequently as non-executive chairman of the Mercedes GP team Niki became an important part not only of the team but also of Formula 1 itself. His incisive mind and wit, coupled with his forthright comments on the Formula 1 world and its politics, will be much missed. The deaths of Charlie Whiting and now Niki Lauda in the space of just a few weeks have robbed Formula 1 of two of its most influential personalities. To his wife Birgit, sons Lukas and Mathias by his first marriage and twins Max and Mia by his second marriage, and to his grandchildren the BRDC extends its deepest sympathies on the loss of a great man who will forever be a motor racing legend.
DCN
Posted 21 May 2019 - 20:14
Posted 21 May 2019 - 20:33
Very sad news.
R.I.P.
Niki Lauda - McLaren MP4/2 TAG Turbo
Niki Lauda - McLaren MP4/2 TAG Turbo