German · Nürburg, Germany · Born 14 May 1969 · Died 2021-03-16German racing driver and television presenter known as 'Queen of the Nürburgring', first woman to win the Nürburgring 24 Hours race in 1996.
Sabine Schmitz, born Sabine Reck on 14 May 1969 in Adenau, West Germany, grew up in a family in the hotel and catering business in a village nestled within the Nürburgring, initially training to follow her parents into that trade before choosing motor racing instead. Schmitz became the foremost specialist of the Nürburgring's fearsome Nordschleife circuit, amassing an estimated 20,000 laps between competitive racing and "Ring Taxi" tourist rides, and made history by becoming the first and, to date, only woman to win the Nürburgring 24 Hours outright, achieving the feat in both 1996 and 1997 driving a BMW M3. Schmitz ran her own racing team, Frikadelli Racing, with her husband, Klaus Abbelen, and won the VLN endurance championship at the Nürburgring in 1998, cementing her reputation as the "Queen of the Nürburgring." Schmitz became a cult figure on British television after joining BBC's Top Gear in 2004, memorably attempting to lap the Nordschleife in a Ford Transit van in under ten minutes, and continued making recurring appearances on the show. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2017 and died on 16 March 2021, at age 51, in Trier, Germany, prompting tributes from across the motorsport world.
Nürburgring 24 Hours victories and Top Gear presenting
How They Played
Aggressive endurance racing specialist with exceptional Nordschleife knowledge
Lasting Impact
First and only woman to win Nürburgring 24 Hours, beloved motorsport personality
Career Honours
- Nürburgring 24 Hours winner 1996, 1997 (only woman ever)
- Top Gear presenter
- Nürburgring instructor and ambassador
German Athletes