Tribute to Sabine Schmitz – Queen of the Nürburgring

Tucked away in the picturesque Eifel Forest, the great Nürburgring Nordschleife – Northern Loop – is the Mecca of endurance Motorsport.

With its hazardous corners, challenging crests, inclines and sharp gradients, it’s a test of endurance and sheer driving skill – an intense 20.8KM through the hills of Western Germany. Not for the faint hearted.

When Sabine Schmitz was growing up in the “Hotel am Tiergarten”, close to the fabled motorsports complex, nobody would have dreamed she’d one day get behind the wheel of a BMW M3 – and conquer an arena dominated by men.

But in 1996, after honing her skills in lower-level categories, Sabine Schmitz – and her co-driver, veteran Johannes Scheid – took on one of the most dangerous and demanding racing tracks in the world aboard a BMW M3…

…and won. Becoming the first – and only – woman to do so.

It didn’t end there.

She did it again in 1997. And then won the VLN championship of endurances races in Nürburgring in 1998.

If someone masters a skill with 10,000 hours of dedicated effort, Sabine Schmitz was a grandmaster of the Nürburgring – with more than 20,000 rounds of the track under her belt…including an entertaining display in a BMW M5 ‘ring taxi’ – giving her the title of “fastest taxi driver in the world.”.

With her unapologetic sense of authenticity, and charisma, Sabine became a recognised face in motorsport television. Known for her awesomely ‘dry’ descriptions of driving incidents, she appeared on several TV shows, including Top Gear in 2004 – becoming a popular fixture in fans’ hearts, and a show regular from 2016.

She was a true force of nature – radiating positivity and smiling through the hard times – an incredible inspiration to women racers the world over.

From giving Paddy McGuinness tips on how to drive a Ferrari really fast to partaking in truly bonkers driving challenges, she was truly unique, and full of life.

She will long live in the heart of motoring enthusiasts. And will forever be known as the Queen of the Nürburgring.

Long live the Queen.