'The closer you are to death, the more alive you feel': Chris Hemsworth becomes F1 driver James Hunt in official trailer for Rush

PUBLISHED: 04:04 EST, 9 April 2013 | UPDATED: 04:37 EST, 9 April 2013

Depicting the story of the 1976 Formula One season, Chris Hemsworth becomes race driver James Hunt as he vows to defeat rival Niki Lauda in the official trailer for Rush.

The preview for the Ron Howard film, about Hunt and Lauda (Daniel Brühl), gave fans a first look at what they can expect from the motion picture when it hits UK screens in September.

'The closer you are to death, the more alive you feel', are the words uttered by Hemsworth, 29, as he proves to be the spitting image of the late racer.

Scroll Down For Trailer

'The closer you are to death, the more alive you feel': Chris Hemsworth becomes James Hunt in the Ron Howard film about the rivalry between the F1 driver and Niki Lauda entitled Rush

Explosive: The official trailer shows the Hunt's rival Lauda's accident during the 1976 German Grand Prix

'Lauda and Hunt were rock stars of the race track': Rush was written by Peter Morgan

The clip, which lasts just under two minutes, starts with a monologue from Chris where he says: 'There's a lie that all driver's tell themselves, "Death is something that happens to other people".'

Flamboyant Hunt won the world title from Niki by just one point following a controversial campaign where Lauda suffered an almost life-ending crash after his Ferrari erupted into a fireball at the Nurburgring.

Miraculously Lauda, who was influential in persuading Lewis Hamilton to join Mercedes this season, returned to the cockpit after missing just two races, but narrowly missed out on retaining his title.

VIDEO Watch the official trailer for Chris Hemsworth's latest film Rush

Liam Hemsworth stars in new British racing movie thriller Rush

Horror: Lauda was dragged from his Ferrari at the 1976 German Grand Prix but miraculously survived the incident

Horror: Lauda was dragged from his Ferrari and survived the incident which left him with severe burns

When they weren't at each other's throats... Niki Lauda (L) and James Hunt

Words of war: The clip, which last just under two minutes, sees Hunt challenge Lauda to a race

Superstar: Daniel Brühl plays Niki Lauda in the upcoming movie Rush, about the Formula 1 champion

Flamboyant: Hunt was one of the leading Formula One drivers of the 1970s

Howard's film comes two years after the critically-acclaimed documentary about three-time world champion Ayrton Senna was released.

Oscar-winning director Howard said of the movie: 'Lauda and Hunt were rock stars of the race track: two absolute pros at the top of their game, in a time when sex was safe, driving was dangerous and all bets were off.

'They were also complicated, fascinating men and born rivals. Rush will be as much about that personal rivalry as it will be about the thrill of the race.'

Lothario: Biopic Rush also stars Olivia Wilde and Natalie Dormer

Picture perfect: Hemsworth strikes a sparking resemblance to British Formula One driver James Hunt

Picture perfect: Hunt was said to bed over 5,000 women, married twice and got engaged three times

Titanic battle: Hunt beat Lauda to the championship by just one point

Titanic battle: Controversially Hunt beat Lauda to the championship by just one point

The big screen: James Hunt's rivalry with Niki Lauda will be portrayed in the film Rush, released later this year

Ready for the big screen: Hunt's rivalry with Lauda will be released later this year in the UK cinemas

Hunt, who died from a heart attack at the age of 45 in 1993, was one of the leading Formula One drivers of the 1970s, taking the world F1 title from Lauda in 1976.

Known as 'hunt the shunt', he won the hearts of the British public with his devil-may care attitude and was said to have bedded up to 5,000 women during his lifetime.

Olivia Wilde and Natalie Dormer also star in the Rush alongside Hemsworth and Brühl.

The man of the moment: Chris Hemsworth attended The Inaugural Oceana Ball at Christie's in New York City on Monday alongside his wife Elsa Pataky

Add your comments

Comments (17)

The comments below have not been moderated.

View all

@Lindathecat - Damon Hill had no personality. His father yes, sadly it wasn't passed down. - Kat , London, United Kingdom, 09/4/2013 13:26-----------------I know, I'm a sarky beggar at times!!

- Lindathecat , Wood Green, United Kingdom, 09/4/2013 20:49

Click to rate Rating (0)

It's going to be a great film. An amazing story of Niki Lauda determination to come back after only a few weeks of being terribly burn in the crash. I was lucky enough to work on the film and can tell you Ron Howard is one of the greatest film makers today.

- EnglishCad , Canterbury, United Kingdom, 09/4/2013 20:16

Click to rate Rating 2

Dear Chris, I know you might not know it yet (me living in the UK and you not knowing I exist) but this is your future wife talking! Please hurry up and find me and whisk me off into the sunset PLEASE! You're so hot! I won't wait around forever (oh actually I will, like forever!!)

- Claire , Manchester, United Kingdom, 09/4/2013 20:04

Click to rate Rating 2

Wonder how much Marlboro paid to be all over the place Genuine-5 , London, United Kingdom, 09/4/2013 12:58 You're kidding, right?

- Brother Fox , London, 09/4/2013 17:46

Click to rate Rating 8

Seymour- how old are you? Saying Hamilton has no personality whatsoever and comparing him to the late great and flamboyant James Hunt smacks of typical nostalgic embellishment

- Skynet5 , Stockton, 09/4/2013 17:41

Click to rate Rating 1

look's more like cobain

- sallybc1965 , london, United Kingdom, 09/4/2013 17:19

Click to rate Rating 1

Oh dear- he doesn't look like James Hunt.

- Sartorial Sal , Leeds, 09/4/2013 16:57

Click to rate Rating 1

@Genuine-5 - Marlboro was a huge sponsor of F1 during this time (and, continued to be so up until about 7 years ago) - it's period-correct. The movie wouldn't look authentic without it.

- Piper.Sinclair , Colorado, 09/4/2013 14:36

Click to rate Rating 31

christ alive, his wife is stunning!

- Emma , Salford, 09/4/2013 14:09

Click to rate Rating 47

@Lindathecat - Damon Hill had no personality. His father yes, sadly it wasn't passed down.

- Kat , London, United Kingdom, 09/4/2013 13:26

Click to rate Rating 2

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.