‘Courage & Friendship-Key Ingredients in computing Economic Value of Sport’

Arjun J Chaudhuri 

 

The Movie ‘RUSH’ released this year is 123 minute Action-Drama-Biography which recreates the merciless 1976 rivalry between Formula 1 Drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda. The recreation is biographical account of Niki Lauda, born 1949, who suffered appalling accident which disfigured him for life. Given up for dead, he recovered by sheer force of will to make a quick return to Formula 1 Racing in 1976 in what is called most courageous comeback in sporting history. That year he lost F1 Driver’s Title to James Hunt who was colourful personality and unconventional character in final Grand Prix in Tokyo, Japan where heavy rain threatened life and limb of drivers, and what could have been a repeat of Niki Lauda’s accident at Nurburgring, Germany. 

Both Drivers were of contrasting personality. NIKI LAUDA, son of paper manufacturing businessman, represented conservative approach to F1 Driving, and airline business called LAUDA-AIR which he returned to after winning his third world title in 1984 and career wherein he won 25 F1 Grand Prix races out of 171 participated in. Whereas, JAMES HUNT, born 1947, into family of London stockbroker, was known to be hyperactive, contrary and persistently rebellious, in turbulent life lived to the limit - in and out of racing cars who died at age 45 of massive heart attack. His good looks, extrovert personality and unconventional behaviour made him hugely popular with wide public, and glamourize F1 sport as we see it today. Both James Hunt and Niki Lauda became best of friends who epitomised true principle of sport, and lent character to F1 beyond typical investment in technology & man power and meeting strict regulations for performance excellence. 

Today, Niki Lauda works as TV commentator, and last seen at Indian Grand Prix 2013 held this month in Buddh International Circuit in NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh. He provides an insight into performance of Man & Machine to F1 viewers, and what it takes to put together F1 team based on his prior experience with money borrowed from Austrian Banks. The conclusion of movie reflects how each man’s character helps overcome odds both professional and personal in nature.

Director Ron Howard captures all above with great panache, and serves as standard to what each sport and its participants should ideally strive for: COURAGE & FRIENDSHIP. It is this ‘SPIRIT’ of sportspersons that creates underlying economic value of sport, in overlying and standardized requirements of facility, manpower, finance, enterprise, and technology, even in capital-intensive, multi-billion USD sport like Formula 1, which according to few is seen missing today.