Niki Lauda: goodbye of a great motor racing

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The former Austrian driver survived a terrible accident in 1976 to return to be world champion. He was part of the Ferrari and McLaren teams

His name will always be in the glorious pages of motorsport. We are talking about Andreas Nikolaus Lauda, better known as Niki Lauda, who died on Monday in his native Austria at the age of 70. He was triple world champion of Formula One and one of the most important pilots in the top flight.

Leer en español: El adiós de un grande del automovilismo: se fue Niki Lauda a los 70 años

From a very young age, Lauda showed his tenacious personality defying the obstacles that were presented to him. The first of them, going against the wishes of their parents and becoming a pilot rather than belonging to the financial and banking world in which their last name already had a legacy. Niki, born in Vienna on February 22, 1949, was passionate about cars, knew mechanics, and was ambitious because he wanted to be the best of all in what he liked to do, said Clarin.

CNN dedicated a few minutes to the sports journalist Elizabeth Pérez, who said that "the Austrian icon Niki Lauda, one of the greatest legends of Formula 1, died at age 70. The expiloto died after being hospitalized 10 days for influenza, according to a statement from the family and published by Austrian media. "

His career

The important television medium reiterated the Austrian's sporting achievements in the world of racing. 25 races won in his professional career. Three titles to know: 1975 and 1977 with the Ferrari and in a stage of maximum rivalry with the British Ethan Hunt (of which the film Rush was made some years ago). He retired for two years (1980-81) and returned in 1982 with McLaren, to be titled in 1984, before finally retiring in 1985.

He began his journey in the defunct March category, in which he did not do as he expected. Of course, he was not the main driver and that does not allow him to show his full potential, because the best car was driven by his Swedish partner Ronnie Peterson. In 1973, he went to British Racing Motos (BRM) where he made friends with Clay Regazzoni, who in turn recommended it with Ferrari. Soon after, the call came from Luca De Montezemolo and there began his successful story.

Clarín remembers that the British John Surtes had been the last Ferrari champion in 1964. Ten years later Lauda arrived. In 1975, in his second year in Italy, Lauda triumphed in Monaco, Belgium, Sweden, France, and the United States and was qualified with a lead of 19.5 points over the Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi.

He was in the best moment of his career, in 1976, when he starred in one of the most terrible accidents in the history of motorsport. It was in August 1, at the Nürburgring, Germany. The rain had affected the circuit, but, the 22 kilometers of the track were dry and for that reason several pilots changed tires during the route.

Also read: 5 facts that will surprise you about F1

In the second round, after the Berwerk curve, Lauda's Ferrari 312T2 hit the wall. He returned to the track wrapped in fire and there, he was hit by the car of the American Brett Lunger. The image dismayed the world, while immediately, the pilot Arturo Mezario became a hero taking an unconscious Lauda out of his car.

Niki was transferred to the hospital in Mannheim, and that same night he received extreme unction. But the Austrian survived, although his face was not the same again due to burns, physically he came to be called 'monster' but none of that stopped him. He recovered and six weeks later he ran again.

An indelible memory

Of course, the death of Lauda generated a strong impact in the world of sports and motorsports, a sector that dedicated several words to him through social networks, mainly Twitter.

"Today is a sad day for Formula 1. The great family of Ferrari has learned with great sadness the news of the death of his friend Niki Lauda, three times world champion, twice with the Scuderia (1975-1977) You will continue forever in our hearts and in the fans' hearts. #CiaoNiki, " Casa Ferrari reported .

McLaren, his other team, did not hide its regret at the news. "Everyone at McLaren is deeply sad to hear that our friend, colleague and 1984 F1 champion, Niki Lauda, has passed away, Niki will always be in our hearts and will be in our #RIPNiki story."

The official page of Formula 1 did not stay behind and posted: " Rest in peace Niki Lauda, always carried in our hearts, always immortalized in our history." The motorsport community is mourning the devastating death of a true legend. thoughts of everyone in F1 are with their friends with their family. "

Another one who dedicated a few words to Lauda was the Spanish pilot Fernando Alonso, two-time world champion of F1 (2005 and 2006), who through twitter expressed: "Consternation and sad news this morning, rest in Peace Niki."

LatinAmerican Post | Onofre Zambrano
Translated from "El adiós de un grande del automovilismo: se fue Niki Lauda a los 70 años"