Cathy Muller

Cathy Muller is a French racing driver who won the 1979 European Karting Championship at age 16, competed in everything from Formula 3 to Le Mans, and happens to be the older sister of four-time World Touring Car Champion Yvan Muller and the mother of three-time WTCR champion Yann Ehrlacher—making her family motorsport royalty.

EARLY YEARS

Catherine Marie “Cathy” Muller was born on November 21, 1962, in Alsace, France, in the small town of Seppois-le-Bas. She started racing at twelve years old, throwing herself into karting with the kind of fearlessness that would define her career. By 1979, at just sixteen, she’d already claimed the European Karting Championship title—officially designated as the European Individual Champion for 100 International. It was a landmark achievement that announced her as a serious talent in a sport that wasn’t exactly rolling out the welcome mat for women.

Growing up in Alsace, racing became the family business. Her younger brother Yvan followed her into motorsport, and the two would go on to carve out parallel careers that kept the Muller name in the headlines for decades. But Cathy got there first, setting the standard.

OTHER INTERESTS

Muller married Yves Ehrlacher, a former professional footballer who played at a high level in France. The couple settled in Seppois-le-Bois, and together they raised their son Yann—though Cathy was adamant he wouldn’t follow her into racing. Spoiler: he did anyway, and became a three-time world champion. She’s now involved with the FIA as a Women in Motorsport Commissioner and works with the Iron Dames program as part of their Detection Cell, identifying and nurturing young female talent. She’s also a Senior Advisor for the Iron Dames, continuing her work to open doors for the next generation.

EARLY SUCCESS

After dominating karting, Muller moved into single-seaters and kept winning. She competed in French Formula 3 from 1983 to 1985, racing for teams including David Price Racing and MC Motorsport. In 1984, she made history by winning a French F3 race at Albi—a landmark victory that made her one of the very few women to win an F3 race at that level. Jean Alesi, who raced against her, later joked that he once saw her “making pee pee against a tree” after a race, a story she recounts with humor. The win at Albi remains a touchstone moment, one she discussed forty years later on the Formula Scout Podcast.

In 1981, at eighteen, she entered the prestigious Volant Elf-Winfield competition—a talent search that drew 300 drivers. She made it deep into the selection process, proving she could hold her own against the best young drivers in France. She also competed in the 1983 Macau Grand Prix, one of the most challenging street circuits in the world, racing a Ralt RT3.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 1979: Won the European Karting Championship (100 International class).
• 1984: Won a French Formula 3 race at Albi.
• 1987: Competed at the 1000 km of Nürburgring in a Porsche 962 C, co-driving with Bernard de Dryver and Jürgen Lässig.
• 1987: Started the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
• 1990s: Raced in the Peugeot 905 Spider Cup.
• 1995: Competed in the Ferrari Challenge and won multiple races, continuing her winning streak.
• 2010: Raced in the SEAT Leon Supercopa.
• 2011: Competed in two rounds of the Andros Electric Trophy at Pau, finishing eighth in one race.

INSPIRATIONS

Muller’s drive came from proving she belonged. Racing in the 1980s as a woman meant facing skepticism at every turn—people literally didn’t believe she could win. Her brother Yvan has been alongside her throughout much of her career, and the two share a deep respect for each other’s achievements. Later, when her son Yann started pushing to race karts, it was Yvan who bought him his first kart, despite Cathy and Yves trying everything to keep him out of the sport. She now says that Yann benefits from both her and Yvan’s experience, and that having her brother there helps ease the stress of watching her son race.

REPUTATION

Muller is unique in motorsport—a European karting champion, an F3 winner, the sister of a four-time world champion, and the mother of a three-time world champion. She raced across multiple disciplines over more than two decades, from single-seaters to sportscars to touring cars, and she was competitive in all of them. She earned respect not just for being there, but for winning. Her French F3 victory at Albi remains a defining moment in women’s motorsport history, and her longevity in the sport—competing from age twelve to 33—speaks to both her talent and her resilience.

She retired from full-time racing to focus on her family, but she never fully left the sport. Her work with the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission and the Iron Dames program shows she’s still fighting to make racing more accessible for women. She’s a connector, a mentor, and a reminder that representation matters—not just on the track, but in the rooms where decisions get made.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Muller continues her role with the Iron Dames Detection Cell, working to identify and support young female drivers. In 2025, she remains active as a Senior Advisor for the Iron Dames and as a member of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission. Her focus is on creating pathways for the next generation of women racers, ensuring they don’t face the same barriers she did. She’s also a vocal advocate for programs like Girls on Track—Rising Stars, which she supports through her work with the FIA.

REFERENCES

Cathy Muller – Wikipedia
Cathy Muller – Speedqueens
Podcast: Cathy Muller on her landmark F3 win and defying disbelief – Formula Scout
The Story of Cathy Muller’s 1979 European Karting Championship – Alan Dove
Racing Lives: The Mullers – Motor Sport Magazine
Cathy Muller – OldRacingCars.com
Racing – Iron Dames
Cathy Muller Complete Archive – Racing Sports Cars
1987 1000 km of Nürburgring – Wikipedia
1983 Macau Grand Prix – Wikipedia