Sabine Schmitz

Sports Car racing // German

It’s really fun to scare people. They love to get scared, so they pay me for that. It’s a good job

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nickname:

Queen of the Nürburgring

Birthday:

May 14, 1969 (56)

Birthplace:

Adenau, Germany

racing type:

Sports Car racing

team(s):

racing status:

Retired

height (cm):

172

residence:

inspiration(s):

Johannes Scheid

guilty pLEASURES:

FOLLOWING:

GRRL! Number:

GRRL-0375

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profile updated: June 12, 2025

Sabine Schmitz, known as the “Queen of the Nürburgring,” revolutionized women’s presence in motorsports through her exceptional racing talent and unrivaled knowledge of one of the world’s most challenging race tracks.

EARLY YEARS

Born on May 14, 1969, in Adenau, Germany, Sabine grew up in a family-owned hotel within the Nürburgring circuit. The youngest of three sisters, she discovered her passion for speed early—experiencing her first lap of the track at just six months old from her father’s BMW. By age 13, she had decided to become a racing driver, and by 17, she was sneaking onto the track in her mother’s car, convincing officials she was old enough to drive.

EARLY SUCCESS

Schmitz’s competitive journey began in 1990 with the Circuit Challenge Nürburgring, where she immediately claimed three victories and repeated this success in her second year. That same year, she won the Ford Fiesta Mixed Cup Ladies Category, showcasing her natural talent. Her breakthrough came in 1992 when she captured the overall championship of the Circuit Challenge Nürburgring alongside Thomas Marschall, establishing herself as a formidable competitor regardless of gender.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

1996: Became the first woman to win the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, driving a BMW M3 Group N.
1997: Claimed her second consecutive victory at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.
1998: Won the VLN endurance racing championship as the first female champion.
2008: Secured a third-place podium finish at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in a Porsche.
2009: Finished second in class at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.
2015: Won her class at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and made her debut in the FIA World Touring Car Championship.

REPUTATION

Sabine earned her “Queen of the Nürburgring” title by completing over 30,000 laps of the legendary circuit as both a competitor and a Ring Taxi driver. Her encyclopedic knowledge of every curve and nuance of the track, combined with fearless driving style, made her a motorsport icon. Beyond her racing prowess, Schmitz gained international fame through her charismatic appearances on BBC’s Top Gear, where she showcased both exceptional driving skills and an engaging personality that attracted new fans to motorsports, particularly women who saw in her a pioneering role model.