Ferrari 458 Italia Niki Lauda Tribute
Ferrari owner builds tribute to Maranello’s bravest son
By Imthishan Giado
If you know nothing else about F1, know that Niki Lauda is the man. Senna gets all the attention these days (and rightly so) but in the history of F1, there have been few drivers as brave as this stoic Austrian. Bravery that has nothing to do with the three World Championships that he won and everything to do with one fateful day in Germany in August 1976, when he survived a horrific crash at the ‘Ring that left him permanently disfigured and very near death. But not close enough, because he was back at Ferrari only two races later.
One earnest fan has decided to honour him through this special one-off 458 Italia ordered through the firm’s Tailor Made Program. The car’s red body, white roof and gold wheels hark back to Lauda’s ’76 312T. Present and accounted for is the Italian Tricolore running horizontally along the roof…
….and repeated on the interior. Tasty, though considering that Lauda and Ferrari famously did not part on the best of terms, one wonders if he would approve!
