RIP Sabine Schmitz - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Spuds · 03-17-2021, 10:04 AM

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/top...d-away-aged-51

Quote:

It’s with the heaviest of hearts we report that Sabine Schmitz has passed away, aged 51. The Queen of the Nürburgring had been battling cancer for over three years.

Sabine was a beloved member of the Top Gear family and presenting team since 2016, having first appeared on the show in 2004, and everyone who had the pleasure of working with her on the team is in shock at this news. The ‘Queen of the Nürburgring’, Sabine radiated positivity, always wore her cheeky smile no matter how hard things got and was a force of nature for female drivers in the motoring world.

She properly entered British hearts on a 2004 episode of Top Gear, breaking the ten-minute barrier around the Nordschleife in a diesel Jaguar S-Type before attempting the same in a Ford Transit in the next series. She returned as a host a little over a decade later.

“Rest in peace you wonderful, powerful, hilarious person,” said Chris Harris this morning. “She gave me pointers on how to drive a Ferrari very fast and hunted me down in a banger race,” said Paddy McGuinness. “Brilliantly bonkers and an amazing human being! RIP the great Sabine Schmitz.”

Jeremy Clarkson – who helped introduce her to British petrolheads in the early 2000s – said this: “Terrible news about Sabine Schmitz. Such a sunny person and so full of beans.”

While she starred on TV in recent years, it’s her abilities around the Green Hell – the world’s most notorious race circuit – where she first established her name. She adored the ‘Ring and knew it on an almost innate level, having driven tens of thousands of laps and competed in countless races there. She won the Nürburgring 24 Hours twice, her 1996 victory being the first for a female driver.

Fittingly, the circuit itself was among the first to pay tribute. “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!”

Like everyone else who knew her, we will truly miss her – Sabine really was one of a kind. Our thoughts are with her partner Klaus, who was always by her side and who we welcomed to Dunsfold many times, and her family in Germany.

The Red One · 03-17-2021, 10:09 AM

Wally86 · 03-17-2021, 10:37 AM

WHAT???

RIP in peace

TommyW · 03-17-2021, 01:12 PM

Big bummer. Great driver role model for women in the sport and a phenomenal driver regardless of gender. RIP Ring Queen

Tcoat · 03-17-2021, 02:33 PM

I have no idea who this is.

Dadhawk · 03-17-2021, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I have no idea who this is.

TommyW · 03-17-2021, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I have no idea who this is.

shiumai · 03-17-2021, 05:26 PM

RIP Sabine. Tear up the tarmac, wherever you are.

Clipdat · 03-18-2021, 02:25 AM

RIP, may you continue to race for eternity.

03-17-2021, 10:37 AM	#3
Wally86 Be Kind Join Date: Apr 2020 Drives: 2020 86 Location: MD Posts: 1,132 Thanks: 5,624 Thanked 1,326 Times in 639 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	WHAT??? RIP in peace __________________ [Insert clever signature here] IG \| WhiskyBlog \| Photography

03-17-2021, 02:33 PM	#5
Tcoat Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Drives: 2020 Hakone Location: London, Ont Posts: 69,841 Thanks: 61,656 Thanked 108,295 Times in 46,456 Posts Mentioned: 2499 Post(s) Tagged: 50 Thread(s)	I have no idea who this is. __________________ Racecar spelled backwards is Racecar, because Racecar.

03-17-2021, 05:26 PM	#8
shiumai Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Drives: 2013 DGM BRZ, 2020 C8 Corvette Location: USofA! Posts: 1,763 Thanks: 963 Thanked 1,896 Times in 789 Posts Mentioned: 41 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	RIP Sabine. Tear up the tarmac, wherever you are. __________________ My DGM BRZ vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OL9OhxexAA My car journal thread: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43402

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03-17-2021, 10:09 AM	#2
The Red One Pro Couch surfer Join Date: Jun 2019 Drives: 2019 BRZ Sport-tech RS.City car:GD3 Location: Mtl south shore Posts: 724 Thanks: 987 Thanked 1,010 Times in 512 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)

03-17-2021, 01:12 PM	#4
TommyW Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Drives: '13 Whiteout Location: San Clemente Posts: 1,493 Thanks: 496 Thanked 1,245 Times in 674 Posts Mentioned: 10 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Big bummer. Great driver role model for women in the sport and a phenomenal driver regardless of gender. RIP Ring Queen

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