Ron Howard related to Niki Lauda because of his ambition.
The 59-year-old filmmaker is the man behind 'Rush', the new biopic looking at the Formula 1 star's real-life rivalry with James Hunt, and the former actor admitted he has more in common with Niki's determination than his competitor's reputation as a womaniser.
He told The Times newspaper: ''I am very ambitious and I share that with Niki. I want to succeed.

''To expend your energy and disappoint yourself and others, [and] not achieve the outcome you hope for, is really to be avoided.''
In the movie, Niki - played by Daniel Bruhl - insists he has a ''good ass'', meaning he can immediately tell if something is wrong with a car.
Ron admitted he has a similar ''gut'' instinct, and noted he too can usually tell whether something is a good or bad fit for a story.

He joked: ''So that's where Niki's ass and my gut share something.''
Although the former 'Cheers' star has made his career in films and television he has recently admitted he and his wife Cheryl don't want their children - daughter Bryce Dallas Howard, twins Jocelyn Carlyle Howard and Paige Carlyle Howard and son Reed Cross Howard - to follow in his footsteps.

He previously explained: ''I'm not so crazy about them getting into the industry to be honest. It's tough, particularly for women. We even moved our kids out of Los Angeles and raised them East outside of New York City, because we just didn't want them exposed to it.''