Andreas Nikolaus knight of Lauda (* 22 February 1949 in Vienna), called Niki Lauda, is threefold Formel-1-Weltmeister, pilot and Austrian entrepreneur.

Sportsman

Racing beginnings

Despite as a son of a relatively rich familyfamily family Lauda with borrowed money had to work itself by the lower classes of racing, without being noticeable by particularly large talent. It paid one of its first running cars with the money, which gave it its grandmother for the allegedly existed Matura - which it however never made. Beginning of the 1970er years applied after the death of yokes Rindt rather Helmut Marko and other Austrians than earning its potential Nachfolger.Um money for the formula 1, drove Lauda sports car running on Porsche 908/2 and route car running, where it won and others 1973 on BMW a the 24-Stunden-Rennen at the

Debut in the formula 1 (1971) and the break-through (1974)

The entrance into the formula 1 took place 1971 with March rather unsuccessfully. it drove 1973 for the British team BRM a twelve-cylinder, with which it could hold the Ferrari of Jacky Ickx with large price of Monaco distance, on which Enzo Ferrari offered a contract to it for 1974. The BRM was actually underlaid, had however a very good chassis and Lauda learned in the time with BRM to co-ordinate a chassis well. After the first test travels with Ferrari, before which signing of the agreement took the liberty and meant by Enzo, Lauda, the front axle Ferrari to criticize, the car would be also a few changes 2 seconds faster. Enzo was impressed by this young Lauda, which had the courage as Nobody to criticize the Ferraris. Mauro Forghieri built a new front axle, Lauda was at first attempt two seconds faster and had his Vertrag.Die Italian was successful at the time with sports cars, but in the formula 1 since 1964 no more WM-titles were achieved, and one did not only begin 1973 with some Grand Prix (among other things in Germany). Lauda confirmed Ferrari with the resolution to give the sports cars up and concentrate fully on the formula 1. On the internal test track with Fiorano the new model was tested intensively and developed further.

1974 were Ferrari successfully with the new 312B3 again. Lauda achieved its first Grand Prix victory, missed however the WM-title due to various losses, like e.g. the collision with Jody Scheckter briefly after the start at the large price of Germany on the while team colleague Clay Regazzoni obtained the victory and a "eternal round record" there. At the season end was Niki Lauda with 38 points WM-fourth. It won 2 running. World champion became Emerson Fittipaldi on McLaren before Laudas team colleague Clay Regazzoni.

First world championship 1975

In the year 1975 Lauda in the again further developed model 312T indicated the clay/tone as five season victories then clearly, drove among other things as first and only drivers on that at that time 22.8km is enough for with 6:58,4 a time of under 7 minutes, however in training. He became in this year for the first time world champion, as first Formel-1-Ferrari-Pilot since John Surtees 1964.

Accident 1976

In the season 1976 Lauda was again clearly superior and stated the table of point of world championship with large projection/lead. Although it expressed itself against the special dangers on the it obtained there the secondarybest Trainingsbestzeit, which was somewhat slower however due to of changes of rule (among other things prohibition so far of the highly rising Airboxes) after James Hunt than in the previous year.

Before that large price of Germany on 1 August 1976, which was certain already before after running out a contract as last F1-Rennen on the rained it. All drivers except yokes measure started in running on rain tires and had to change on drying runway to the first round. By this stop dropped back, Lauda lay into round 2 only in the centre zone and was according to testimonies with the catching up hunt particularly riskily on the way. Lauda had an accident then briefly after passage Adenauer of the local part Breidscheid before the distance section mine, probably due to a technical defect of the rear wheel suspension. In the only film document, one can see to an amateur admission of a French spectator on Super8-Film that the Ferrari turns after passage today unofficially of the link break designated after Lauda suddenly outward, against a cliff hits and along the roadway hurls. Laudas helmet was torn by the head, it became briefly unconscious. Those nearly 200 litres gasoline in the vehicle ran out and caught fire. Some following cars pushed against Laudas vehicle or could still continue. Formed a back-up, which was distance - contrary to Roger Williamsons deadly accident 1973 in Zandvoort - blocked. Several pilots, in particular Arturo Merzario, board Lunger, Guy Edward and Harald Ertl, could save Lauda after over a half minute from the burning wreck. On the stretcher Lauda, like evidently from the photographs, was again with consciousness. It had tightened itself however burns in the face, since the flying away helmet had partly taken off also the fireproof head hood.

Originally the ambulance, to the racing course following, should drive kilometres away uphill (approx. 300 m difference in height) and then on the highway again downhill to Adenau to the there hospital. On employment of Hans Joachim stucco, with broken off running, instead of this approx. 20 km of long detour reasonably against the normal driving direction to only few 100 m removed exit Breidscheid driven. These long distances were also a reason for the decision not to use 22.8 km long north loop no more for Formel-1-Rennen.

Running was broken off for the displeasure of the German fans, since prominent yokes the measure thereby the surely believed victory entglitt. After the restart James Hunt won a running.

Due to the fire injuries at the head Lauda was flown first by helicopters to the German Federal Armed Forces hospital to Koblenz. There however the lung corrosions proved by the inhalation of the poisonous smoke of the Kunststoffkarosserie as many more critical, whereby a transfer became necessary to Ludwigshafen. In the hospital Lauda already got the Krankensalbung, survived however. The recovery took place owing to the support via Willi Dungl particularly rapidly. Only four weeks later it drove one of three Ferraris already again into Monza, since Carlo Reutemann had been already obligated as replacement. It became fourth. By the fire injuries at the eye in the view particularly reduced, Lauda gave the WM-title up when last running in Japan with pouring rain for safety reasons and left thus James Hunt. Subsequently, Lauda justified its giving up with the fact that he had not wanted himself to kill a second time.

Second world championship 1977

Although it had been already copied after the task in Fuji by the press, Lauda became 1977 a second time Formel-1-Weltmeister. But before season end it already came to differences with Enzo Ferrari, and Lauda changed 1978 for a million-content to Brabham Alfa Romeo, which was supported by the sponsor Parmalat. The red cap with their Logo became Laudas brand name. Although the new Lotus (those the first F1-Rennwagen were, whose road-hugging property was determined by the Ground Effect) dominated clearly, Lauda 1978 could achieve some successes. At the season end it was WM-fourth. In the season 1979 Lauda withdrew due to motivation lacking (it did not want to drive around "in the circle") surprisingly and dedicated themselves to the Fliegerei and/or the structure of an airline. Besides it commentated some on the television.

Third world championship 1984

To the support of its airline it returned 1982 to the formula 1, in order to drive a McLaren, that owing to new carbon fiber building method was substantially safer than the earlier constructions from aluminum. It was immediately again competitive, although the team had only the Ford suction engine available which was subject performance-related, which particularly showed up clearly 1983. It pushed on the early employment with Porsche of the designed of the day turbo engine to withdraw with which it 1984 its third WM-title achieved, in order after the season 1985 finally and to concentrate itself its airline Lauda air.

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