Director Ron Howard‘s return to the big screen, Rush, sees him tackle a storied Formula 1 rivalry from the 70’s – the duel for the 1976 title between Austrian Niki Lauda and British driver James Hunt. The first trailer left the pits late last night and it’s everything you could hope for: a gloriously authentic retro-style, with exhilarating racing sequences and intense drama.

And what drama there was. The 1976 championship featured disqualifications, legal challenges and a near-fatal crash; all playing their part in a season which saw Lauda and Hunt take the title down to the last race – a rain soaked Japanese Grand Prix. It was also Hunt’s first year at McLaren – the team founded by Kiwi Bruce McLaren in 1963.

The mighty Thor, Chris Hemsworth, puts the hammer down to play the extroverted playboy Hunt, while Inglorious Bastards actor Daniel Brühl takes the role of the serious and methodical Lauda. The talented and beautiful Olivia Wilde plays Hunt’s ex-wife Suzy Miller.

Rush roars into New Zealand theatres on 11 September.

In the meantime, buckle up and enjoy the trailer. You’re in for one heck of ride:

How’s that for a trailer? The retro look is spot on and the racing is some of the best ever recreated. We don’t get much of the story – just a tease at this stage – but if the acting and script are up to the visuals, Howard has a winner on his hands.

It’s remarkable how much Hemsworth looks like Hunt. A quick Google search and you’ll see what I mean. I  doubt our lead prepared for the role by sleeping with 5,000 women though – that would be extreme method acting.

As a fan of Formula 1, I’m already on board. But as the sensational documentary Senna showed us, real-life rivalries are fascinating no matter what arena they’re in. Rush will be a film that anyone can enjoy.

You ready to take a ride?

Set against the sexy and glamorous golden age of Formula 1 racing, Rush portrays the exhilarating true story of two of the greatest rivals the world has ever witnessed—handsome English playboy Hunt and his methodical, brilliant opponent, Lauda. Taking us into their personal lives on and off the track, Rush follows the two drivers as they push themselves to the breaking point of physical and psychological endurance, where there is no shortcut to victory and no margin for error. If you make one mistake, you die.

Directed by Ron Howard, the film stars Daniel Brühl, Chris Hemsworth, Olivia Wilde, Tom Wlaschiha, Natalie Dormer, Joséphine de La Baume, Lee Asquith-Coe, Jamie Sives, Alexandra Maria Lara, Julian Seager, Pierfrancesco Favino, Christian McKay, Patrick Baladi, and Alistair Petrie.

Rush opens 11 September, 2013.