WCW: Sabine Schmitz, Gone Too Soon

Donned the “Queen of the Nürburgring,” Sabine Schmitz dominate motorsports and was one of the most successful drivers in the world.

The fact that she was a woman was only a footnote to the fact that she showed her love for racing, for the track where she grew up, and was one of the most accomplished racers ever to get behind the wheel of a race car.

Nürburgringwas Her Home

For many races, calling a track their home location wasn’t quite the same as it was for Schmitz. Her family owned a hotel that was only 300 meters from the track, which meant she literally grew up at the track. She learned the layout of this famous track at an early age and understood its twists and turns better than anyone else. This helped give her the nickname she rightfully earned.

Sabine Schmitz estimated that she had driven around this long and winding track nearly 20,000 times as a racer and a test driver for many companies. Whenever there was a challenge presented for this track, Schmitz was called to show off her racing skills and test the machines that were brought for testing. She eventually became known as the “world’s fastest taxi driver” when she decided to shuttle passengers around Nürburgringin a BMW M5.

Earning Her Nickname

Schmitz wasn’t named the “Queen of the Nürburgring” simply because she grew up near the track or because she tested many vehicles on the track. She didn’t earn the name by logging more laps than anyone else in history. She did earn this nickname by winning one of the most famous races in the world. The 24-hours of Nürburgringwhich takes place at the 14-mile Nordschleife circuit of the track was where she earned her name by winning the title in 1996 and 1997.

Sabine Schmitz Wasn’t a One-Trick Pony

Away from her home track, Schmitz was extremely successful as a racer. She won the Ford Fiesta Mixed Cup Ladies Category in 1990 and raced in the South African Touring Car Championship in 1995. Although that season in South Africa wasn’t one for her to be proud of, she continued her career on the track.

After her wins at Nürburgring, Schmitz participated in the Brazilian sports car races and entered the Complete World Touring Car Championship in 2o15 and 2016.

More than Just Racing

Sabine Schmitz did have some activities she enjoyed away from the track. She worked to help children and animals around the world with her active charity work. Here support and celebrity helped to build charities that would make a huge difference in the lives of children and animals around the world.

Taking Her Talents to Top Gear

One of the most popular car shows in the world is Top Gear. The original cast of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May often drive on tracks, show off impressive cars, and show off goofy antics in an effort to embarrass each other. Schmitz became a regular on this show where she would be seen driving alongside these characters. Eventually, Schmitz became one of the presenters along with Chris Evans.

Starting Her Own Team

After many years of success on the track, Sabine Schmitz started operating her own racing team. This team, called Frikadelli Racing Team, was part of a legacy that Sabine left behind. She did race as part of this team at her track in the 24-Hours of Nürburgringin 2008racing in a Porsche. During this race, she came in third and returned in 2011 to come in ninth, followed by a sixth-place finish in 2012.

Gone Too Soon

In 2017, Schmitz was diagnosed with cancer. She fought bravely against a disease that has not lost a battle yet, but in the end, she succumbed to this dreaded disease. She passed away in March 2021 at the tender age of 51. She lost her life, and the racing world lost an icon, and the support for her life poured in on social media.

Many Honored the “Queen of the Nürburgring”

From the track operators at Nürburgring to Chris Harris of Top Gear, those who worked with and knew Sabine Schmitz sobbed at the loss of one of the most famous female champions in motorsports.

Gone too soon, she is easily the right choice for our WCW series and an inspiration to women around the world. Her memories will live on with the legacy she left behind for us to admire and enjoy.