Sky Sports Online gives its take on the James Hunt and Niki Lauda biopic Rush

For whatever reason, some sports (boxing) work on the big screen while others (football) don't. Motor racing is an inbetweener; from the sublime (the start sequence in Steve McQueen's 'Le Mans') to the bloody awful (just about everything in the Al Pacino vehicle 'Bobby Deerfield').

It's an approach that won him respect if not popularity at first but Lauda's incredible bravery changed everything. If there's a criticism of the film it's that it overplays the rivalry; certainly Lauda insisted in his 1986 autobiography 'To Hell And Back' that it was always a friendly one and when one considers the barbs he aims at other contemporaries in the same book, that sounds right. After all, this is someone who, after driving a Ferrari for the first time as a young hopeful, reported back to Enzo Ferrari of all people that it was a 'piece of sh*t'. People know where they stand with Niki. The story might have dropped into Howard's lap gift-wrapped with ribbons, but it still needed to be told. A significant part of that, of course, is the recreation of the actual racing and it's this aspect of 'Rush' that has caused particular wariness among fans. Will they do it justice? It's a pleasure to report that, not only do they meet expectations, they surpass them. Clearly, great care has been taken in locating contemporary cars and the paint jobs and helmet colours on display are, near as damn it, accurate. There is some visible CGI work in the set pieces but, considering the job they had recreating such a perilous era, you can barely see the join. Phew. 'Rush' was always going to be a must-see for F1 fans but its reach spreads far wider - not only because the story it tells stretches beyond the realms of sporting endeavour but also because its protagonists display, in their heroism and their flaws, very human qualities. Times have changed: F1 is now much safer and also much more popular. Commercial imperatives matter above all else, yet an intrinsic appeal has been lost forever. In that sense, it's a shame that one needs a film to capture it. But what a film it is. Rush is available on the Sky Store now. Rent it now for your chance to win a VIP trip for two to the 2014 FORMULA 1 SANTANDER BRITISH GRAND PRIX!