The Nurburgring added their own tribute on Twitter as they said: "The Nrburgring has lost its most famous female racing driver. [3] In 2006 Schmitz and Klaus Abbelen drove the #97 Porsche 997 in the Nrburgring VLN endurance racing series, entered by Land Motorsport. Please stay healthy and cheerful, see you at the 'Ring.''. All Rights Reserved. She remains the only female driver to win the famous Nrburgring 24 Hours, achieving the remarkable feat twice. Frikadelli Racing, the team she founded with husband Klaus Abbelen, confirmed the news earlier on Wednesday. Since the end of 2017, I have been fighting an extremely persistent cancer that has not been eliminated with the resources so far. Very sad to hear that Sabine Schmitz (1969-2021) has passed away. What a woman she was. Career [ edit] Nrburgring [ edit] Following occasional drives with the family car on the Nordschleife, all three Schmitz sisters started racing, but only Sabine continued and went on to achieve several notable victories. Such a sunny person and so full of beans. Rotten news. Since the end of 2017, I have been fighting an extremely persistent cancer that has not been eliminated with the resources so far. She was the only woman to win the epic 24-hour race at the storied Nrburgring track in Germany. 'Sabine Schmitz (14.5.1969 - 16.3.2021) passed away yesterday (Tuesday) after her brave fight against cancer,' the team said in a statement. Sabine Schmitz, "Top Gear" presenter and race car driver known as the "Queen of the Nrburgring," has died. appreciated. They put on racing tires, took off the license plates and raced it on the track, Beat Schmitz said about Sabine and the family. She became known to an even broader public when she joined Top Gear in 2016 after several appearances on the show. She founded her own racing team and later became a popular TV personality. She managed to get within 10 seconds of the saloon car. After competing in amateur races with her two sisters, Schmitz joined a BMW team in the early 1990s. Sabine Schmitz, the German race car driver best known to TV audiences as a presenter on Top Gear, has died at the age of 51. 3/17/2021 6:56 AM PT Sabine Schmitz -- affectionately known as the Queen of Nrburgring and former host of the hit BBC show "Top Gear" -- has died. The daughter of a wholesaler and a hotel manager in the village of Nurburg, near the border with Belgium, she grew up less than a mile from the Nrburgring complex, and although she trained as a hotelier, she had wanted to be a racing driver since she was 13, she said. In a Facebook post from September, left, and in October, right, Sabine Schmitz with her husband and fellow racing driver Klaus Abbelen at the Hurlingham Club in 2016, left, and at the red carpet at the same event, right, Schmitz with her husband Klaus Abbelen in London, left, and on the track, right. Rest in peace you wonderful, powerful, hilarious person, said Chris Harris this morning. Sabine Schmitz passed away far too early after a long illness. She was also a qualified helicopter pilot. Such a sunny person and so full of beans, Clarkson tweeted. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. [14], In July 2020, Schmitz revealed via a Facebook post that she had been suffering from "an extremely persistent cancer" since late 2017. 3 min read. Like everyone else who knew her, we will truly miss her Sabine really was one of a kind. She has also appeared on Fifth Gear. RIP wrote Clarksons former Top Gear co-host Richard Hammond. Matt Bagwell. 'In addition, I would like to thank everyone for their help and support in my everyday life, and encouragement in writing! The "Queen of Nordschleife" was a crowd favourite due to her open, humorous way. "Sabine Schmitz passed away far too early after a long illness. Schmitz died of cancer, in March 2021, at the age of 51, following a diagnosis in late 2017. We will miss her and her cheerful nature. . Sabine Schmitz passed away yesterday after her brave fight against cancer, a statement read. Share this article. Her skill around the track earned her appearances on German motorsport TV channels, including for the D Motor programme, where she took on sports cars such as the Ferrari 360, with much slower vehicles like a 1200 horse power truck. As age expectancy increases the more time there is for these errors to build up which means there are now more people than ever living to an age where they have a higher risk of developing cancer. Is it cheaper than petrol? ", "It got a little better but now it's come back with full force.". It was here that Schmitz, the youngest of three sisters, started racing as a 15-year-old and later as a student, between her studies as a hotel manager and sommeliere. Revealed: the winners of the 2023 TopGear.com Electric Awards! After getting married and running a hotel in Pulheim near Cologne, she won the 24 Hours Nrburgring in 1996 and 1997 as Sabine Reck, all with a BMW M3 Group N entered and co-driven by local veteran Johannes Scheid. Market data provided by Factset. Rest in peace Sabine! Sabine Schmitz, the German race car driver best known to TV audiences as a presenter on Top Gear, has died at the age of 51. She won the popular Nrburgring 24-hour race in 1996 becoming the first woman to do so and then again the next year. I can't eat this any more! So sweethearts, now you have an update. Sabine Schmitz passed away far too early after a long illness. The only female winner of the 24-hour race at Nrburgring, Schmitz also shot to fame via her role on BBCs Top Gear, where she first appeared back in 2004. pic.twitter.com/awtbOnMD90, Paddy McGuinness (@PaddyMcGuinness) March 17, 2021, #NLS - Very sad to hear that Sabine Schmitz (1969-2021) has passed away. We will miss her and her cheerful nature. The Top Gear team faced off against the German team in a series of comedy-biased challenges in order to see which team was the best. 'We spent some time in southern California together and she taught me how to drive, how to actually make a car fly around Daytona.'. Paddy McGuinness, who has starred on Top Gear since 2016, said: 'I spent a glorious couple of days in a Ferrari with . Cancer largely affects the elderly due to it being a disease of the genes with the bits of a persons DNA code which hold the instructions for all of the microscopic machinery inside our cells. I think she loved how much she could shock middle-aged men who thought they could drive a bit until they saw what she could do, Chris Harris, a Top Gear host, said. The Queen of the Nurburgring had said,Many of you have probably wondered why I was on the list of participants on our Porsche in the NSL and then didnt drive after all. [10], In March 2015, The Guardian featured a satirical article calling for Schmitz to be the new presenter of Top Gear in order to gracefully cancel the programme, concluding that "She has appeared from time to time on Top Gear in the past, and shown herself to possess exactly the right mix of knowledge and boisterousness for the job every time. Take a look at the most powerful convertibles ever produced by American automakers. Why does my electric cars range drop when the weather is cold? McGuinness today shared a photo of he and Schmitz wearing crash helmets inside a car, writing: 'She gave me pointers on how to drive a Ferrari very fast and hunted me down in a banger race. Klaus Abbelen and all relatives and friends are deeply saddened by the immeasurable loss.. [9], In 2008 Schmitz (and fellow D Motor presenters Carsten van Ryssen and Tim Schrick,) featured in a Top Gear challenge of "Top Gear Vs the Germans". The Nrburgring has lost its most famous female racing driver. All rights reserved. RIP the great Sabine Schmitz. 'So sweethearts, now you have an update. Schmitz, a popular German racing driver and former featured participant on the BBC show Top Gear, known for her punchy comments and a buoyant personality that stood out in a male-dominated industry, died on Tuesday at a hospital in Trier, in southwestern Germany. The DJ was informed about the sad news by listeners. No money from the licence fee was used to create this website. Schmitz rose to global fame after appearing on the BBC show "Top Gear" in 2002 in a segment where she and host Richard Hammond attempted to drive a commercial van around the track in under 10 minutes. Sabine Schmitz, 51, was a German professional motor racingdriver forboth BMW and Porsche. 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(@fisemganbo) April 7, 2021. Here's a look at what happened to Sabine Schmitz and the cause of her tragic death. She did not return for the 1996 season. Tributes have flooded in for German racing driver Sabine Schmitz, who has died at the age of 51. Best known for winning Germany's Nurburgring Nordschleife, the legend took her last breath on Tuesday (March 16, 2021), according to a statement issued by Frikadelli Racing. Such a sunny person and so full of beans, Clarkson tweeted. RIP Sabine., The Nrburgring has lost its most famous female racing driver.Sabine Schmitz passed away far too early after a long illness. She is known as the . Schmitz grew up in the town of Nurburg, western Germany, which gives its name to one of the most formidable tracks in motorsport, the Nurburgring. BMW M3 Touring vs Audi RS4 Avant: can an old estate do the M3T's job for a fraction of the price? An incredible talent and wonderful person who made us all smile. Sabine Schmitz poses with her Porsche ahead of a race in 2010, Sabine Schmitz at the Top Gear premier in London in January 2020, Sabine Schmitz behind the wheel of a sports car with Top Gear host Chris Evans in the passenger seat, Top Gear presenter Chris Harris uploaded this post today of him playfully holdingSchmitz around the chest. She turned professional aged 24, claiming historic victories as the first woman to win the24 Hours Nurburgring endurance race in 1996, and then again in 1997, behind the wheel of a BMW M3. Schmitz also raced for the Porsche motorsport team, which posted its own tribute on Twitter. "The Nrburgring has lost its most famous female racing driver. She then went on to become a co-host on the show in a cast that included "Friends" starMatt LeBlanc and appeared on several other shows in Germany and the U.K. Schmitz publically revealedlast July in a Facebook post that she had been dealing with the condition since 2017, writing:"I have been fighting an extremely persistent cancer that has not been eliminated with the resources so far. Wed 17 Mar 2021 07.02 EDT Last modified on Thu 18 Mar 2021 04.40 EDT. This website is made by BBC Studios Distribution. Sabine Schmitz passed away far too early after a long illness. We will miss her and her cheerful nature. . #RIP, Pioneer, champion, Queen of the NurburgringSabine Schmitz was a unique, much-loved and cherished member of our sport's family, and a force of nature for inspiring a new generation of motorsport enthusiastsOur thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad time pic.twitter.com/nwrLyZvXla, Very sad to hear of the passing of Sabine Schmitz, a proper driving legend wholl be sadly missed by many. Sabine Schmitz passed away far too early after a long illness. Top Gear's Sabine Schmitz has died aged 51 after a three-year battle with cancer. Brilliantly bonkers and an amazing human being! As well as working with Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May in the earlier series' of Top Gear,Schmitz was introduced as a presenter by the BBC to host the show alongside Chris Evans, Chris Harris, Rory Reid and Eddie Jordan in 2016. The profits we make from it go back to BBC programme-makers to help fund great new BBC programmes. 2021. 'Since the end of 2017, I have been fighting an extremely persistent cancer that has not been eliminated with the resources so far. She did a lap in the Jaguar S-Type, and set a time of 9 minutes 12 seconds, beating him by 47 seconds. Top Gear: A tribute to Sabine Schmitz is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now. It got a little better but now it's come back with full force. Fittingly, the circuit itself was among the first to pay tribute. Discovery Company. What a driver. Terrible news about Sabine Schmitz. [6] Schmitz herself ceased driving the "ring taxi" in 2011. Brilliantly bonkers and an amazing human being! The fabled main track of the Nrburgring, the 12.9-mile-long Nordschleife, is known as Green Hell for its 73 turns as it weaves through the forest in the Eifel hills. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much University Challenge contestant leaves fans besotted by her VERY expressive reactions Do not sell or share my personal information. Anyone can read what you share. The motor racer explained that she had sought treatment and her condition was improving, but she had relapsed and would be undergoing treatment again. She became a spirited participant on the BBC show Top Gear.. The "Queen of the Nrburgring" made a name for herself after appearing on British . As King Charles announces his Coronation meal, FEMAIL reveals how eggy dish 'Have they seen the supermarket shelves recently? The racing icon also became known as the 'worlds fastest taxi driver' by driving passengers around the track in a BMW M5. [12], Born in Adenau to local restaurant owners, Schmitz and her two elder sisters grew up in the "Hotel am Tiergarten" (in the basement of which is the Pistenklause restaurant) in Nrburg within the Nrburgring Nordschleife. Despite high expectations, Schmitz did not find success in the South African championship. Top Gear fans have praised bosses for an emotional tribute to Sabine Schmitz. ', Sabine Schmitz in her Porsche racing overalls. "Brilliantly bonkers and an amazing human being! Sabine Schmitz passed away far too early after a long illness. Growing up near the track, one of the worlds most famous, she had always loved speed and by her own account completed more than 20,000 laps of that circuit. Brilliantly bonkers and an amazing human being! I have been fighting an extremely persistent cancer that has not been eliminated with the resources so far". The following year, she repeated the feat. In 2006, she teamed up with Abbelen, who she married a year later, to race a Porsche 997 in the VLN. Efter flere r med krft, er Sabine desvrre dd. Rest in peace Sabine!. Schmitzs time on Top Gear brought a non-British touch to a show mostly run by men and aimed at them. Im glad @BBC_TopGear did a tribute to her. German racing driver Sabine Schmitz, who earned the reputation as the "Queen of the Nurburgring", passed away at the age of 51. #sabineschmitz #topgear RIP., As a follower added: Just watched the #TopGear Sabine Schmitz tribute and wow Im in tears. The Top Gear presenter revealed last year that she had been dealing with a rare form of cancer since 2017. She managed to get within 10 seconds of the saloon car. RIP, Richard Hammond (@RichardHammond) March 17, 2021, Were incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Sabine Schmitz.A fierce competitor, talented racer and Queen of the Nrburgring, who shared our passion for driving fast.Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with her family and friends. 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. Please stay healthy and cheerful, see you at the 'Ring. Schmitz revealed last year she had been battling cancer since 2017. Sabine Schmitz passed . Top Gear TV series 34 filming paused after Freddie Flintoffs accident, This 12m number plate has set a new world record at auction. Its with the heaviest of hearts we report that Sabine Schmitz has passed away, aged 51. She remains the only female driver to have won Nrburgrings 24-hour race, which draws more than 200 racing teams and tens of thousands of fans every June. She won the Nrburgring 24 Hours twice, her 1996 victory being the first for a female driver. Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) March 17, 2021, I never thought car makers should be at the Ring, but I always thought Sabine Schmitz should, and would, be. The world mourned for the Queen of the Nurburgring and one of the most famous female racing drivers. The Queen of Nordschleife was a crowd favourite due to her open, humorous way, the tweet reads. Schmitz died of cancer, in March 2021, at the age of 51, following a diagnosis in late 2017. The Nrburgring has lost its most famous female racing driver, the circuit wrote on Twitter. The motorsport world is mourning the tragic death of female pioneer Sabine Schmitz, who died on Wednesday at age 51. In addition, I would like to thank everyone for their help and support in my everyday life, and encouragement in writing! 17 March, 2021 14:12. The Queen of the Nrburgring and Top Gear host has lost her battle with cancer. Fittingly, the circuit itself was among the first to pay tribute. "We are all deeply saddened to hear that Sabine Schmitz has passed away," said . Last July, Schmitz revealed in a . The Queen of the Nrburgring had been battling cancer for over three years. [4], According to her own estimates, Schmitz went around the track more than 20,000 times, increasing by approximately 1,200 per year. Advertisement. 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