GERMAN RACING DRIVER SABINE SCHMITZ HAS DIED
Another sad moment in motorsport right after the tragic news of Murray Walker, the German professional racing driver and personality Sabine Schmitz has died as a result of her battle with cancer.
Sabine Schmitz is a well known and, quite frankly, legendary name in the world of motorsports and racing. Her claim to fame was her love for the infamous German racetrack, the Nurburgring. According to her own estimates, she had been around the track over 20,000 times in her career... it is no wonder she was nicknamed the Queen of the Nurburgring.
The talented Sabine Schmitz also did a lot for woman racing drivers in the predominantly male sport of motor racing. She is still the only woman ever to have won the Nurburgring 24 Hours. And not only once either. In fact, she also won it twice in a row, in 1996 as well as in 1997 behind the wheel of a BMW M3.
Sabine Schmitz also had a few appearances on the British motoring show Top Gear. Arguably, her most famous episode showcased her attempt to beat one of the presenters lap records around the Nurburgring. In a van. After the rather controversial expulsion of former Top Gear presenter, Jeremy Clarkson, Sabine Schmit also presented a few Top Gear episodes alongside Chris Evans in 2016.
Whilst on the topic, a report has just been released by the executive producer, Clare Pizey, who announced that this week Sunday's episode of Top Gear will be dedicated to Sabine Schmitz. Pizey had this to say about Sabine Schmitz's tragic passing: "Sabine Schmitz was a beloved member of the Top Gear family and presenting team since 2016, having first appeared on the show in 2004, and everyone who had the pleasure of working with her on the team is in shock at this news.
"Sabine radiated positivity, always wore her cheeky smile no matter how hard things got – and was a force of nature for women drivers in the motoring world.
"Like everyone else who knew her, we will truly miss her – Sabine really was one of a kind. Our thoughts are with her partner Klaus, who was always by her side and who we welcomed to Dunsfold many times, and her family in Germany."
Sadly, on the morning of the 17th of March 2021, she was announced dead at the age of just 51 after her long struggle with cancer after her diagnosis in 2017.
Here are some tributes and condolences towards Sabine Schmitz and her loved ones:
Sabine Schmitz will go down in history as a true legend and outstanding racing driver, possibly the most famous woman racing driver of all time. She will be dearly missed.
Take a look at the video below by YouTube channel, ADAC TOTAL 24h-Rennen Nürburgring, on Sabine Schmitz | Porsche 911 GT3 R | Onboard | Frikadelli Racing Team | VLN 2014.
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