The late great three-time Formula 1 World Champion Niki Lauda is oft-remembered due to his courageous recovery from a near-fatal fire in the 1976 German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring Nordschleife and the helmet worn during that historic race is set to be auctioned at the Miami Grand Prix.
Bonhams will present the ‘never before auctioned helmet’ on Saturday, May 04 at Miami GP next weekend with the item expected to sell between $50,000 and $60,000.
The helmet will be held on display at the Bonhams preview tent at the Miami Internationa Autodrome venue throughout the Grand Prix weekend and a portion of the sale proceeds will be donated to the Lauda Family’s chosen charity UNICEF.
“We are delighted that our father’s legacy continues to provide help and assistance to those in most need,” said Lauda’s son Lukas.
“The challenges faced by UNICEF in providing humanitarian aid to children worldwide are enormous, if we can make a small contribution towards improving opportunities for others; we are delighted to do so.”
Bonhams|Cars Automobilia Specialist James Garguilo added “We are privileged to present this historically significant helmet, as a testament to Niki Lauda’s legacy as a driver and as a champion for driver safety.
“His unyielding determination and sheer courage altered the trajectory of racing history.”
The 1976 F1 season, immortalised by director Ron Howard’s 2013 feature film ‘Rush,’ will go down in history as one of the most memorable in the sport’s history.
Fresh from a maiden title with Ferrari in 1975, Lauda started the ’76 season in fine form amid a challenge from McLaren’s new enigmatic hire James Hunt.
Lauda won five of the first nine races of the season and held a commanding lead in the Drivers’ standings heading into the Nürburgring round in August ’76.
The Austrian, concerned with the circuit’s safety sought to have the race abandoned but was outvoted by his fellow drivers.
A large Lap Two accident saw Lauda’s helmet thrown clear and his car ignite, engulfing him in flames before four of his competitors raced to pull him from the wreckage.
Despite being read the last rites in hospital, Lauda fought through a painful recovery from severe burns and respiratory damage to suit up for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, just 40 days after his accident.
Meanwhile, Hunt had clawed his way back into title contention and the fight between the McLaren driver and Lauda went down to the final round in Fuji, Japan.
Heavy rain made safety a concern once again and Lauda, having flirted with perilous danger just months prior, made the courageous decision to put personal safety first and retired at the end of Lap One.
Hunt went on to win the title with a third-place finish, but Lauda’s actions that year made him a legend of the sport.
The Austrian would go on to win the 1977 title with Ferrari.
A souring relationship with Enzo Ferrari, who reportedly disapproved of Lauda’s actions in Fuji, motivated a switch to Brabham in 1978.
However, Lauda would retire part-way through the 1979 season after becoming tired of the sport, before reviving his F1 career with McLaren in 1982, before going on to win a third and final title in 1984 by just half a point over team-mate Alain Prost.
