Sabine Schmitz, German racing driver and the only female driver to win the Nürburgring 24 Hours overall, has passed away at age 51 following a battle with cancer.
Schmitz, sometimes nicknamed the ‘Queen of the Nurburgring’, made a name for herself at the German circuit when she became the first female driver to take overall victory in the twice-around-the-clock enduro in 1996.
She would repeat the victory a year later, becoming a two-time winner of the German classic and to date the only woman to take overall victory at the event.
Schmitz was diagnosed with cancer in 2017, which forced her to step away from racing.
In 2008, she founded the the Frikadelli Racing Team with Klaus Abbelen, which has since grown to be a major team in GT3 competition at the Nordschleife, often running at the front with Porsche machinery.
MotorsportWeek.com expresses its condolences to Schmitz’ family and friends at this difficult time.
