Sandra Van der Sloot
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Sandra van der Sloot stands as Dutch motorsports’ most successful female driver with 25 wins and a record-breaking 88 podiums earned after starting her career disguised as a man.
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I had to get my license under a male name… It was definitely a political game at the time.
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FULL BIO: Sandra Van der Sloot
Sandra van der Sloot stands as the most successful female racing driver in Dutch motorsports history, with 25 race wins and an unprecedented 88 podium finishes that shattered barriers in a sport that barely acknowledged women existed.
EARLY YEARS
Born on March 19, 1975, in the Netherlands, Sandra’s path to racing royalty began at age 10 when her father’s rallying career first exposed her to the intoxicating world of motorsports. At 12, she attended her first race and was immediately hooked—though her initial role was limited to cleaning the car, because apparently that’s what girls were good for back then. She started karting lessons at 14 at the legendary Zandvoort circuit, and by 16, had to obtain her racing license under a male pseudonym because the sport’s political gatekeepers couldn’t fathom a woman behind the wheel. Her stellar grades helped convince officials to grant the license, proving she was as sharp in the classroom as she would be on the track.
OTHER INTERESTS
Information about Sandra’s interests outside of motorsports remains private.
EARLY SUCCESS
Sandra’s transition from karting to professional racing was marked by the absurd requirement to masquerade as a man just to compete—a testament to how backwards the sport was in the 1990s. Despite these obstacles, she quickly established herself as a formidable competitor, accumulating wins and podiums across various Dutch championships. Her natural talent and determination began turning heads in a paddock that had rarely seen a woman, let alone one who could consistently outpace the boys’ club that dominated Dutch motorsports.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
- CAREER: Five-time Dutch champion across multiple championships
- CAREER: 25 race wins in 274 race starts
- CAREER: 88 podium finishes—the most ever by a Dutch woman in racing
- CAREER: 11 pole positions and 19 fastest laps
- 2024: First place qualifying at Imola in Italian GT Championship
- 2024: Wins and podiums at Vallelunga and Monza in GT Cup Am category
INSPIRATIONS
Sandra’s racing journey was sparked by her father’s rallying career, which provided her first taste of motorsports at age 10. The early exposure to racing events and her father’s involvement in the sport created the foundation for what would become an extraordinary career breaking gender barriers in Dutch motorsports.
REPUTATION
Regarded as one of the greatest Dutch drivers in motorsport history regardless of gender, Sandra has earned respect through pure performance rather than novelty. Her record-breaking 88 podium finishes stands as an unmatched achievement for Dutch women in racing, cementing her legacy as a pioneer who proved talent transcends gender. In a sport that initially forced her to hide her identity, she became impossible to ignore, earning recognition as a trailblazer who opened doors for future generations of female racers.
FUTURE GOALS/PLANS
Currently competing for Team Driverse in the Italian GT Championship as of 2024, Sandra has expressed hopes to continue racing for at least five more years. As she stated in a 2021 interview, “I just hope that I’m still racing in five years time,” and her continued active participation in 2024 suggests she’s well on track to meet that goal.
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