RACING driver and Top Gear favourite Sabine Schmitz has died at the age of 51 from cancer.
The Nürburgring’s best-known female driver, Sabine Schmitz, lost her battle with cancer after more than three years with the disease.
Paying tribute to the famous driver, legendary motorsport complex the Nürburgring tweeted: “The Nürburgring has lost its most famous female racing driver.
“Sabine Schmitz passed away far too early after a long illness. We will miss her and her cheerful nature. Rest in peace Sabine!”
Sabine Schmitz became known to the general public for her appearances on Top Gear.
Sabine was first seen on British TV taking ex-Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson around the ring taxi in 2002’s Jeremy Clarkson Meets the Neighbours.
She had also previously starred alongside the original Top Gear line up and appeared on the show from time to time from 2004 onwards.
Since 2006, Sabine co-presented a German motoring show called D Motor, frequently being set challenges behind the wheel for the show.
She became known as “the fastest taxi driver in the world” after being one of two drivers who circled the Nurburgring 20.8km race track in BMW M5 “ring taxis”.
She has also featured on other television shows, such as Fifth Gear.
Her name is a household name on and around the Nürburgring, after she became a professional driver in 1993.
Until now, she was the only woman to win the 24h of the Nürburgring.
The famous driver had been diagnosed with cancer in 2017 and in summer 2020 the disease struck again, reported Autoblog.
As a result, Schmitz was unable to participate in the Nürburgring Endurance Series with her team Frikadelli Racing.
