On March 16th, 2021, Sabine Schmitz lost her battle against cancer, aged 51.
A fan favourite not only on the racetrack, but also as a TV presenter, Sabine Schmitz had battled with cancer since 2017. A brief racing return saw her conquer the Nürburgring-Nordschleife one last time in 2019. Sadly, the illness returned, and on March 16th, the much-loved "Queen of the Nürburgring" lost her final race.
Sabine Schmitz made history as the first woman to win the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring in 1996. She would repeat that success a year later, and in 1998 became the first woman to win the Nürbringring-Langstrecken-Meisterschaft. She added another overall podium in 2008.
She found international fame following an appearance on Top Gear in 2004, attempting to beat Jeremy Clarkson's Nürburgring lap time, set in a Jaguar S-Type, at the wheel of a Ford Transit. She failed by nine seconds.
In 2016, following the departure of Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, she was selected to be part of the new presenting team for Top Gear.
She is survived by her partner Klaus Abbelen, with whom she founded and raced for the Frikadelli Racing Team.
RIP Sabine Schmitz