Sabine Schmitz, the pioneering female racer and only woman to have won the Nurburgring 24 Hours endurance race, has passed away at the age of 51.
The German racer, affectionately nicknamed by many as the ‘Queen of the Nurburgring’, revealed last year that she was diagnosed with cancer in 2017.
She twice won the 24-hour race at the fabled Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in a BMW M3, and raced a Porsche in the same event in 2008 to finish third.
Schmitz was also known for her appearances on British motoring show Top Gear, in which she famously attempted to lap a Ford Transit van around the 15-mile circuit under 10 minutes.
Sophia Floersch, who became the first F3 racer in 2020, tweeted her condolences as she called it “very sad for motorsport.”
She wrote: “Sabine is the queen at Nurburgring. She always will be unreachable in the Green Hell. Seeing her races was inspirational and motivating. My deepest condolences to the family. RIP Sabine”.
The Nurburgring added their own tribute on Twitter as they said: “The Nürburgring has lost its most famous female racing driver.
“Sabine Schmitz passed away far too early after a long illness. We will miss her and her cheerful nature. Rest in peace Sabine!”
"We are all deeply saddened to hear that Sabine Schmitz has passed away," said Formula 1 in a statement. "An incredible talent and wonderful person who made us all smile. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad time."
Loved her banter with Top Gear, especially the Nürburgring episodes.
The Enemy's gate is down.
March 17, 2021, 11:21 AM
RVF400
Wow that sucks. Never saw her without a smile on her face.
March 17, 2021, 11:26 AM
Gocad
Cancer is crap. Really sad.
March 17, 2021, 12:08 PM
nhtagmember
thats sad - RIP
she was a great friend of the Top Gear guys...she will be missed
March 17, 2021, 12:10 PM
HRK
quote:
Schmitz was also known for her appearances on British motoring show Top Gear, in which she famously attempted to lap a Ford Transit van around the 15-mile circuit under 10 minutes.
Heck of a driver and funny, she was a hoot on TG, Here's the video of the Transit Van Run
March 17, 2021, 12:41 PM
P250UA5
Hilarious watching her passing motorcycles in a Transit van.
The Enemy's gate is down.
March 17, 2021, 12:49 PM
old rugged cross
i did not know her. A beautiful woman and loved her passion in the van video. May she rest in peace. Far too young. It is obviously a sad time as she was loved by many.
"Practice like you want to play in the game"
March 17, 2021, 01:07 PM
Russ59
Dang it! I really enjoyed her on Top Gear.
P229
March 17, 2021, 01:16 PM
CQB60
Both she & her cheerful nature will be surely missed. Rest easy sweet Queen..
______________________________________________ Life is short. It’s shorter with the wrong gun…
March 17, 2021, 01:37 PM
TMats
quote:
Originally posted by HRK:
quote:
Schmitz was also known for her appearances on British motoring show Top Gear, in which she famously attempted to lap a Ford Transit van around the 15-mile circuit under 10 minutes.
Heck of a driver and funny, she was a hoot on TG, Here's the video of the Transit Van Run
That was wonderful. What a loss
_______________________________________________________ despite them
March 17, 2021, 01:42 PM
corsair
Far, far too young to pass. Very unfortunate.
Far from the German stereotype of being cold and dour, she was full of personality and, lots of enthusiasm, she added an element to Top Gear that the other presenters didn't have. She gave it to Clarkson as good as anybody, putting him in his place and he was receptive to it.
RIP Sabine.
March 17, 2021, 01:44 PM
jhe888
All hail the Queen. She was a treat and will be missed.
The fish is mute, expressionless. The fish doesn't think because the fish knows everything.
March 17, 2021, 02:40 PM
cas
Wow, when I read the title I thought for sure it had been a crash. She was always fun on screen and I assume off screen as well.
_____________________________________________________ Sliced bread, the greatest thing since the 1911.
March 17, 2021, 02:55 PM
GT-40DOC
Just sad.......what a loss!!
March 17, 2021, 02:57 PM
aileron
I had Sabine drive me 2 laps around the Nürburgring in BMW's Ring taxi; maybe 15 (20?) years ago. I also stayed at her family's small hotel/restaurant that night, and had Sabine join us for desert and many rounds of booze :-)
Wonderful and talented woman; the world lost a real live wire. RIP
March 17, 2021, 03:03 PM
cslinger
God Dammit!!
Rest In Peace. Seemed like such a good lady.
Take Care, Shoot Safe, Chris
March 17, 2021, 03:19 PM
ersatzknarf
Just let my colleague in Germany know. Her husband Klaus announced it on fb, but doesn't use it, so didn't know.
He had tuned the engines of her race cars and had arranged for me to ride in the Ring taxi with her in 2022, when we thought it would be possible to go there.
Heartbroken, we both are.
Would much rather she were with us, than having a chance to spend time with her in a race car.
She was much too young; only a year older than my friend.
Rest in peace, dear lady.
March 17, 2021, 04:28 PM
smlsig
To have her drive me around the Ring was a bucket list item...Maybe in Heaven Sabine....
------------------ Eddie
Our Founding Fathers were men who understood that the right thing is not necessarily the written thing. -kkina
March 17, 2021, 07:06 PM
Fenris
quote:
Originally posted by Gocad: Cancer is crap. Really sad.
Fuck cancer.
God Bless and Protect our Beloved President, Donald John Trump.
March 17, 2021, 09:02 PM
sjtill
This is very sad! She had such a grand spirit! Aileron, I envy you that experience.
_________________________ “Remember, remember the fifth of November!"
