DESIRÉ WILSON’s Historic 1980 F1 Entry Overshadowed in 75-Year GP Celebration

July 4, 2025

from www.espn.co.uk

• In ESPN’s sprawling 75-year British Grand Prix retrospective, DESIRÉ WILSON gets exactly two paragraphs despite being the only woman to win a post-war Formula 1 race. While we get detailed coverage of tire suppliers and venue changes, Wilson’s groundbreaking 1980 entry at Brands Hatch—where she became F1’s sole female race winner just months earlier—merits barely a footnote in this “comprehensive” history.
• The article notes Wilson failed to qualify after being forced into an uncompetitive Williams FW07 different from her test car, but glosses over the systemic barriers she faced. What it does mention: she won in other endurance series and has a grandstand named after her at Brands Hatch. What it doesn’t: the significance of her achievement or why more wasn’t done to support the only woman proving she belonged in F1.
• This treatment perfectly encapsulates how women’s motorsport contributions get relegated to historical trivia while men’s achievements get the full narrative treatment. We can read about Fangio’s five titles, Hamilton’s nine British GP wins, and even Mansell giving Senna a ride, but Wilson’s barrier-breaking moment gets the speed-run treatment. At least Brands Hatch had the sense to name a grandstand after her—apparently they understood her significance better than today’s historians.

brands hatch, british grand prix, formula 1, williams