MICHELE MOUTON remains WRC’s only female winner, 45 years on

October 26, 2026

• MICHELE MOUTON and co-driver FABRIZIA PONS won the 1981 Rallye Sanremo in the Audi Quattro — the only WRC round victory by a woman — after leading rivals Toivonen and season champion Vatanen.
• MOUTON came within 12 points of the 1982 WRC title, winning three rounds; a gearbox change mid-rally in the Ivory Coast cost her a lead of over an hour and ultimately the championship.
• In 1985, MOUTON set a Pikes Peak record of 11:25.39 in an Audi Sport Quattro, beating Al Unser Jr by 13 seconds — she remains the only woman crowned King of the Mountain.
• Post-driving, MOUTON co-founded the Race of Champions in 1988, led the FIA women in motorsport commission for 12 years, and received the FIA Lifetime Achievement Award in December 2024.

audi quattro, fia world rally championship, pikes peak international hill climb, race of champions