From horror crash to heroic return: Niki Lauda's incredible Monza comeback

And Colossally That's History!

On this episode of the pod, Matt and Richard tell the remarkable story of Niki Lauda’s Monza comeback in 1976, which came just 40 days after the horrific F1 crash at the Nurburgring that nearly killed him.

It was described at the time by Jackie Stewart as “the most courageous thing I’ve ever witnessed in sport” - and all these years later, the nature of the comeback remains unparalleled in sporting terms. 

Listen in as Matt and Richard reappraise the events of August and September of 1976 through a modern lens, with the usual blend of anecdotes and story-telling along the way.

Want to go deeper? We wholeheartedly recommend these books, referenced in the show, for further reading:

To Hell and Back: An autobiography - Niki's fabulously frank autobiography

Niki Lauda: The Biography - Maurice Hamilton's definitive account of the three-time world champion's life and career

  • Want to listen ad-free? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace - we even have an F1-only tier!
  • Buy some Colossally merch! Visit The Race Shop
  • Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook
  • Check out our latest videos on YouTube
  • Download our app on iOS or Android

A Race Media Production

Producer: Jonny Reynolds

With special thanks to Tim Silvey for studio support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes and get the latest updates.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada