South African · Brakpan, South Africa · Born 26 November 1953South African racing driver who became the first and only woman to win a Formula 1 race, achieving victory at Brands Hatch in 1980.
Desiré Randall Wilson was born on 26 November 1953 in Brakpan, a gold and uranium mining town near Johannesburg, South Africa, the daughter of Charlie Randall, a national motorbike champion who introduced her to motorsport from early childhood. She began racing micro-midgets at just five years old, competing against much older boys, and narrowly missed the South African Micro-Midget Championship at 12. Wilson progressed through the Aurora F1 Championship in Britain, driving a former car of French driver Patrick Depailler, before achieving the defining moment of her career on 7 April 1980: winning the Evening News Trophy at Brands Hatch in the Aurora AFX F1 Championship, becoming the first and to date only woman ever to win a Formula One race of any kind, prompting the circuit to name a grandstand in her honour. Wilson entered the 1980 British Grand Prix with a non-works Williams prepared by RAM Racing, though she failed to qualify, and competed in the non-championship 1981 South African Grand Prix for Tyrrell, becoming one of only five women ever to start a Formula One-affiliated race weekend. Wilson enjoyed considerable success in sports car racing, finishing third at the 1980 Brands Hatch 1000km before winning the Monza 1000km and Silverstone 6 Hours alongside co-driver Alain de Cadenet, and has remained an influential advocate for women in motorsport throughout her post-driving career.
Only woman to win an open Formula race and compete in British Grand Prix
How They Played
Determined and skilled racing driver breaking gender barriers
Lasting Impact
Trailblazer for women in Formula 1 and motorsport
Career Honours
- Only woman to win an open Formula race (1980, Brands Hatch)
- 1980 British Grand Prix competitor
- South African racing pioneer
| Constructor | Season(s) | Races |
|---|---|---|
| South African Formula Vee (privateer) | 1972–1974 | — |
| South African Formula Ford (privateer) | 1975–1976 | — |
| Formula Ford 2000 – Benelux/British Championships (privateer) | 1977 | — |
| Mario Deliotti Racing (Aurora AFX F1 Championship – Ensign N175) | 1978 | 5 |
| Melchester Racing (Aurora AFX F1 Championship – Tyrrell 008) | 1979 | — |
| Theodore Racing / Teddy Yip (Aurora AFX F1 Championship – Wolf WR4) | 1980 | — |
| RAM Racing (F1 World Championship – Williams FW07, British GP) | 1980 | 1 |
| Alain de Cadenet (World Sportscar Championship – De Cadenet LM1) | 1980 | — |
| Tyrrell Racing (South African GP – Tyrrell 010) | 1981 | 1 |
| Theodore Racing / Teddy Yip (CART IndyCar – Eagle-Cosworth, Indianapolis 500) | 1982 | — |
| Ford / Jonathan Palmer (IMSA – Ford C100, Brands Hatch 1000km) | 1982 | 1 |
| Wysard Racing (CART IndyCar – March 83C-Cosworth) | 1983–1984 | — |
| Moretti Momo Team (IMSA GTP – March 83G-Porsche) | 1983 | 3 |
| Machinists Union (CART IndyCar – March) | 1986 | — |
| Saleen Motorsport (SCCA/IMSA – Saleen Mustang) | 1987–1988 | — |
| Women's Le Mans Team (FIA Sportscar World Championship – Spice SE90C-Cosworth) | 1991 | 1 |
| North American Super Touring Car Championship (Mazda Xedos) | 1997 | — |
| Career Total | — | 12 |
South African Athletes