Since I do not always find inspiration in my own daily events, I always have a look at the Days of the Year website and on Wikipedia to see if there are any special days or occasions I could pay attention to.
Well, looking at Wikipedia made me a bit sad. Today would have been the birthday of Sabine Schmitz. Would have been, since she suffered from cancer and died in 2021. So I’ll keep it simple today, by just sharing 10 facts about Sabine, and sharing the great tribute that Top Gear made in memory of her.
- Sabine Schmitz was a German professional racing driver, who was born on May 14, 1969, in Adenau, Germany.
- She was known as the “Queen of the Nürburgring” due to her success on the Nürburgring Nordschleife race track, which she knew like the back of her hand.
- Schmitz began racing in the 1990s and was the first woman to win the Nürburgring 24 Hours race in 1996.
- In 2004, Schmitz joined the British automotive television show Top Gear as a presenter, and became a fan favorite due to her infectious personality and love for racing.
- She was the first woman to compete in the VLN endurance racing championship, and won the race twice in 1998 and 2005.
- Schmitz was also a successful businesswoman, owning a hotel and restaurant near the Nürburgring race track.
- She held the record for the fastest lap time in a van around the Nürburgring Nordschleife, completing the 12.9-mile circuit in just under 10 minutes.
- Schmitz was diagnosed with cancer in 2017 and underwent treatment, but sadly passed away on March 16, 2021, at the age of 51.
- She once famously drove a Ford Transit van around the Nürburgring while giving fellow Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson a ride, and left him speechless with her incredible driving skills.
- Schmitz was a beloved figure in the world of motorsports and was known for her talent, humor, and infectious personality. She will always be remembered as one of the greatest racing drivers of all time.
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