**LONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR PRIZE 2020 **

**LONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR PRIZE 2020 **

'The definitive biography of a racing driver who won three World Championship titles' Matt Dickinson, The Times,Sports Books of the Year

'Thoroughly gripping...a fitting tribute' Justin Marozzi, Sunday Times Niki Lauda was one of the greatest stars in motor racing – a superb driver on the track and a much-loved personality off it. From his famous rivalry with James Hunt in 1976, as depicted in the film Rush *, to working with Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, his career helped define modern Formula One.Six weeks after the 1976 crash at the notorious Nuerburgring that left him burned and receiving the last rites while obituaries were written, Niki Lauda stepped back into hisFerrari*at Monza to defend his first World Champion title.Jackie Stewartcalled it ‘the most courageous thing I have ever witnessed in sport’. Lauda and Hunt were playing cat-and-mouse for the championship. At the final race of the season in Japan, the weather was appalling and conditions treacherous. Lauda had a narrow lead and an agonising decision to make – high-speed drama at its best.

Following his extraordinary recovery from the accident, Lauda won the title in 1977 and again, following a return from retirement, in 1984 withMcLaren. When he eventually hung up his helmet for good, he started his own airline and had to deal with the horrendous aftermath when one of his aircraft crashed, killing all 223 on board. He later returned to the sport in various management roles and successfully persuadedLewis Hamiltonto joinMercedes.** Maurice Hamilton first came across Lauda in 1971 and in this definitive biography tells his remarkable story. Based on interviews with friends, family, rival drivers and colleagues, it is a superb tribute to a brave, supremely talented and much-missed star of Formula One.** Recenzii 'By the end of thisthoroughly grippingbiography, what is abundantly clear is that statistics tell only half the story... This was a man who was forged in fire... Some of the mostengrossingpassages in this book, big on anecdote and reportage, have nothing to do with Lauda's racing career. Hamilton...reveals a man who is far more riveting and intelligent than his ability to pilot an F1 car very swiftly around a circuit may suggest. This biography isa fitting tributeto him.''Hamilton's book is the one we'drecommend. As great as* To Hell and Back *remains, the new biography addsgreater detailfrom other perspectives... Autobiographies are not necessarily the definitive word on a subject. Hamilton adds anice personal touch... His use of less familiar period interviews addsvivid colour... What really makes this new biographycompellingare the chapters after 1985... It was Niki Lauda's humanity that was his true driving characteristic, and that's the running thread that pulls hisauthoriativebook together.''Petrolheads willenjoyHamilton’s expert analysis of car construction…for the rest of us, there is more than enough tosavourin Lauda’s singular character, especially hisamusingbluntness’'Acomprehensive and enlighteningbiography''Acompellingcharacter study' Vezi mai mult Vezi mai mult #### Inapoi in pagina de produsLONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR PRIZE 2020

'The definitive biography of a racing driver who won three World Championship titles' Matt Dickinson, The Times,Sports Books of the Year

'Thoroughly gripping...a fitting tribute' Justin Marozzi, Sunday Times Niki Lauda was one of the greatest stars in motor racing – a superb driver on the track and a much-loved personality off it. From his famous rivalry with James Hunt in 1976, as depicted in the film Rush *, to working with Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, his career helped define modern Formula One.Six weeks after the 1976 crash at the notorious Nuerburgring that left him burned and receiving the last rites while obituaries were written, Niki Lauda stepped back into hisFerrari*at Monza to defend his first World Champion title.Jackie Stewartcalled it ‘the most courageous thing I have ever witnessed in sport’. Lauda and Hunt were playing cat-and-mouse for the championship. At the final race of the season in Japan, the weather was appalling and conditions treacherous. Lauda had a narrow lead and an agonising decision to make – high-speed drama at its best.

Following his extraordinary recovery from the accident, Lauda won the title in 1977 and again, following a return from retirement, in 1984 withMcLaren. When he eventually hung up his helmet for good, he started his own airline and had to deal with the horrendous aftermath when one of his aircraft crashed, killing all 223 on board. He later returned to the sport in various management roles and successfully persuadedLewis Hamiltonto joinMercedes.** Maurice Hamilton first came across Lauda in 1971 and in this definitive biography tells his remarkable story. Based on interviews with friends, family, rival drivers and colleagues, it is a superb tribute to a brave, supremely talented and much-missed star of Formula One.** Recenzii 'By the end of thisthoroughly grippingbiography, what is abundantly clear is that statistics tell only half the story... This was a man who was forged in fire... Some of the mostengrossingpassages in this book, big on anecdote and reportage, have nothing to do with Lauda's racing career. Hamilton...reveals a man who is far more riveting and intelligent than his ability to pilot an F1 car very swiftly around a circuit may suggest. This biography isa fitting tributeto him.''Hamilton's book is the one we'drecommend. As great as* To Hell and Back *remains, the new biography addsgreater detailfrom other perspectives... Autobiographies are not necessarily the definitive word on a subject. Hamilton adds anice personal touch... His use of less familiar period interviews addsvivid colour... What really makes this new biographycompellingare the chapters after 1985... It was Niki Lauda's humanity that was his true driving characteristic, and that's the running thread that pulls hisauthoriativebook together.''Petrolheads willenjoyHamilton’s expert analysis of car construction…for the rest of us, there is more than enough tosavourin Lauda’s singular character, especially hisamusingbluntness’'Acomprehensive and enlighteningbiography''Acompelling character study'