Hellé Nice

CHAT & RACER CALENDAR COMING

NEWS:

SOCIALS:

VIDEOS:

• FULL BIO: Hellé Nice

   

  Mariette Hélène Delangle transformed herself from a Parisian nude model and ballet dancer into one of pre-war Europe’s most fearless racing drivers, earning the nickname “Bugatti Queen” while setting speed records and competing head-to-head with the era’s greatest male racers.

  EARLY YEARS

  Born December 15, 1900, near Chartres, France, to a local postman father, Mariette Hélène Delangle grew up in modest circumstances with no early exposure to motorsports. Her path to racing began through her work as a professional ballet dancer and nude model for artist René Carrère in Paris, where she earned enough to purchase a house and yacht. The turning point came when she met Henri de Courcelles, a racing driver who introduced her to European racing venues. In 1921, she attempted to race at Brooklands but was barred simply for being a woman—a rejection that would fuel her determination to prove herself in motorsports.

  OTHER INTERESTS

  Beyond racing, Hellé was an accomplished skier who pursued the sport with the same fearless intensity she later brought to the track. Her skiing career ended abruptly in 1929 when she was injured while outrunning an avalanche—an incident that paradoxically helped steer her toward motor racing full-time. Her artistic background in dance and modeling provided both the financial foundation and the performance confidence that would serve her well in the spotlight of international racing. She also became a successful brand ambassador, leveraging her racing fame into business opportunities.

  EARLY SUCCESS

  Hellé’s racing breakthrough came in June 1929 when she won the Grand Prix Féminin driving an Oméga-Six, marking her dramatic entry into competitive motorsports. That same year, she set the women’s world land speed record at 120 mph at Montlhéry in a Bugatti 35C, establishing herself as a serious competitor rather than a novelty act. Her rapid ascent continued with victory in the Actor’s Championship driving a Bugatti Type 43A, and she quickly became associated with the iconic French marque. Under the guidance of trainers Mongin, Guy Bouriat, and Albert Divo, she honed her skills with disciplined practice sessions, driving ten laps daily at the Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry circuit.

  NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

  • 1929: Won Grand Prix Féminin driving an Oméga-Six.
  • 1929: Set women’s world land speed record at 120 mph at Montlhéry in Bugatti 35C.
  • 1929-1930s: Won Actor’s Championship driving Bugatti Type 43A.
  • 1930s: Achieved podium finish (third place) at Grand Prix Bugatti Le Mans Circuit.
  • 1929-1940: Competed in over 70 events and 32 Grand Prix races across Europe, North Africa, Brazil, and the USA.
  • 1930s: Won numerous hillclimb and endurance trials throughout Europe.

  INSPIRATIONS

  Henri de Courcelles served as both romantic partner and racing mentor, opening the door to European racing venues and providing crucial early guidance. Her development as a driver was shaped by Bugatti team mentors Guy Bouriat and Albert Divo, who helped refine her technique and racecraft. Hellé competed alongside and drew inspiration from racing legends including Louis Chiron, Tazio Nuvolari, and Robert Benoist, holding her own against these titans of the sport. Her artistic background with René Carrère instilled the performance confidence and fearless attitude that translated perfectly to high-speed competition.

  REPUTATION

  Known as the “Bugatti Queen,” Hellé earned respect as one of the great female pre-war racing drivers, competing on equal terms with male legends of the era. Her skill, resilience, and competitive spirit made her a crowd favorite and sought-after brand ambassador, particularly for Lucky Strike cigarettes and Bugatti. She famously declared to L’Intransigeant in 1930, “It’s all I ever ask for, just to show what I can do, without a handicap, against men”—a statement that perfectly captured her pioneering role in breaking down gender barriers in motorsports. Her close relationships with the Bugatti family and racing elite, including romantic connections with Henri de Courcelles, Bruno Count of Harcourt, and Jean Bugatti, cemented her status within racing’s inner circle.

  FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

  Hellé Nice died in 1984, having spent her final years in poverty and obscurity after being largely forgotten by the motorsports community following World War II. Her racing career effectively ended with the onset of the war, and she never returned to competitive driving in the post-war era.

  References:

  Racing History Archives
  Bugatti Racing Heritage
  Hagerty Motorsports Biography
  L’Intransigeant Interview 1930
  Pre-War Grand Prix Database