VIENNA — Formula One legend Niki Lauda, who won two of his titles after a horrific crash that left him with serious burns and went on to become a prominent figure in the aviation industry, has died. He was 70.

The Austria Press Agency reported Lauda’s family saying in a statement he « passed away peacefully » on Monday.

« His unique achievements as an athlete and entrepreneur are and will remain unforgettable, his tireless zest for action, his straightforwardness and his courage remain, » the statement continued. « A role model and a benchmark for all of us, he was a loving and caring husband, father and grandfather away from the public, and he will be missed. »

Lauda won three Formula One world championships and was the only driver to have won a world title with Ferrari and McLaren. His rivalry with British driver James Hunt was the subject of the film « Rush. »

Lauda was badly burned in a near-fatal Formula One crash in 1976 and later became an airline entrepreneur

He had been a shareholder and team boss of the Mercedes Formula One team since 2012.

Lauda twice underwent kidney transplants, receiving an organ donated by his brother in 1997 and a kidney donated by his girlfriend in 2005.

In August last year, he underwent a lung transplant that the Vienna General Hospital said was made necessary by a « serious lung illness. »

Information from The Associated Press and Reuters was used in this report.

http://www.espn.com/racing/f1/story/_/id/26790500/formula-one-legend-niki-lauda-dies-70

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