FILM MAKER RON HOWARD ENTERTAINS FANS AT THE STARTING GRID LUNCHEON

Hollywood legend and two-time Academy Award®-winning director Ron Howard entertained a packed house, while serving as guest speaker for The Starting Grid luncheon at Austin’s Downtown Hilton Hotel. Howard shared the behind-the-scenes story of his new epic-action drama, Rush. The film, set for release in September 2013, tells the real-life story of Formula 1™ drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda, whose clashes on the racetrack epitomized the contrast between two extraordinary characters, a distinction also reflected in their personal lives.

Howard shared a four-minute video vignette with guests attending the official kick-off luncheon for the 2012 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX, set for Nov. 16-18 at Circuit of The Americas. The esteemed film maker, who spent many months working to recreate Formula 1 racing as it was experienced during the sexy, glamorous 1970s, explained how immersing himself in F1’s history and culture turned him into a fan of the world’s most prestigious motorsport.