Niki Lauda
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About
Austrian Formula One racer who won three F1 World Championships in 1975, 1977, and 1984. He became the first driver in F1 history to have been a champion for both Ferrari and McLaren. Also an aviation entrepreneur, he founded three airlines.
Before Fame
He was raised by a wealthy Austrian family who disapproved of his choice of racing as a career.
Trivia
The story of his duel with James Hunt was made into an American movie called Rush, directed by Ron Howard and released in 2013.
Family Life
He was married to Marlene Knaus from 1976 to 1991. They raised two sons, Mathias and Lukas. Mathias became a professional racer and Lukas became Mathias's manager. Niki married Birgit Wetzinger in 2008. The couple welcomed twins in 2009, a boy and a girl.
Associated With
He and reckless British racer James Hunt had a legendary rivalry in the 1970s.
