Claudia Hurtgen
Formula racing // Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
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Claudia Hürtgen, German racing virtuoso with over 400 races and 39 wins, conquered the Austrian Touring Car Championship, claimed victory at Daytona 24 Hours, and blazed trails as the first woman since 1998 to win the VLN Endurance Championship.
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It was fantastic to win today after a rather tricky start to the weekend – I was very unhappy with our car’s performance on Friday. In today’s race, I pushed hard until I was out in front and enjoyed every lap from then on. The car was set up perfectly for the race; the team couldn’t have done any more to make it better.
Our car today was completely different to the car we were driving yesterday. The team did a great job on the setup, and Claudia put in an excellent second stint.
There were a lot of yellow flags at the start of the race, though, and it was quite tricky to be sure of how fast I was allowed to go. I couldn’t keep up with the Corvette anyway – it was simply too quick for us on the first few laps.
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FULL BIO: Claudia Hurtgen
Claudia Hürtgen stands as one of the most accomplished female drivers in motorsport history, carving out a remarkable career spanning multiple decades and disciplines with her exceptional endurance racing prowess and versatility behind the wheel.
EARLY YEARS
Born on September 10, 1971, in Aachen, West Germany, Claudia grew up in a region known for its rich motorsport culture and proximity to iconic racing circuits like the Nürburgring. Her journey into racing began with karting, which served as the foundation for her professional motorsports career, though specific details about her earliest racing experiences remain undocumented.
EARLY SUCCESS
Hürtgen’s professional career launched in the early 1990s when she transitioned from karting to German Formula Ford 1600. By 1993, she had progressed to German Formula 3, showing promising talent in single-seaters. However, a significant hand injury forced her to step away from formula racing, leading to a two-year hiatus. Rather than surrendering to this setback, Claudia demonstrated remarkable resilience by returning in 1995 with a pivot to touring cars, immediately capturing the Austrian Touring Car Championship and establishing herself as a formidable competitor regardless of vehicle class.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
- 1995: Won Austrian Touring Car Championship, marking her successful transition from formula racing to touring cars.
- 1997: Captured GT class victory at the prestigious Daytona 24 Hours, establishing her credentials in international endurance racing.
- 1998: Secured a podium finish in the GT class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of motorsport’s most challenging events.
- 2003: Won the German touring car championship (DTM Challenge), solidifying her status in German motorsports.
- 2004: Successfully defended her German touring car championship title, demonstrating consistency at the highest level.
- 2005: Became the first woman since 1998 to win the VLN Endurance Championship, breaking barriers in the notoriously difficult German endurance series.
- 2006: Achieved fifth place overall at the Nürburgring 24 Hours with a diesel-powered BMW, showcasing her adaptability to different power units.
- 2011: Won the 24 Hours of Dubai, adding another major endurance victory to her impressive resume.
- 2021: Joined the innovative Extreme E electric off-road racing series with Abt Cupra XE team, embracing sustainable motorsport.
REPUTATION
Throughout her career spanning over 400 races with 39 wins, Hürtgen has earned recognition as one of the most successful female sports car drivers globally. Her reputation is built on exceptional versatility across multiple racing disciplines, technical precision, and remarkable endurance racing prowess. As a long-time BMW Motorsport associate, serving as a chief instructor for BMW Driving Experience, she’s respected for both her driving talents and technical knowledge. Her success in traditionally male-dominated endurance events, particularly at the punishing Nürburgring, has cemented her status as a trailblazer who opened doors for women in motorsports through achievement rather than tokenism. Claudia’s career trajectory—overcoming a career-threatening injury to build a diverse racing portfolio spanning nearly three decades—exemplifies resilience and adaptability rarely seen in motorsport.
FUTURE GOALS/PLANS
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