Remembering the Late Sabine Schmitz

Terrible news was released this month informing the public that German racing driver Sabine Schmitz, also known as "Queen of the Nürburgring" had passed at age 51 following a long battle with cancer. Her charismatic personality could light up a room, and the world got to see that charm on many occasions being featured on the BBC show, as a Top Gear.Show more

Originally from Germany, Sabine was much more than just a pretty face. She had raw talent, and quickly made a statement on the race track before she even got involved with television. Her talent eventually led to her becoming a professional motorsports driver on both the BMW and Porsche racing teams. She spent so much time at the track that she eventually became one of the best and most famous female racing drivers in Germany.

Considering recent events, it's only appropriate to look back on some of her racing accomplishments and appreciate what the racecar driver was able to do over the years. From racing to television, Sabine Schmitz undoubtedly left her impact on the world.

Sabine initially got her passion for racing as she took the family car on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Both of her sisters also started racing, but Sabine was the only one to truly see some success in it. For both 1996 and 1997, she won the 24-Hour race at the Nürburgring using a BMW M3, and in the following year, she took home the VLN endurance racing championship win. Close to a decade later, she switched to using a Porsche 997 for the endurance racing.

One of the things that Sabine became most known for was being the fastest taxi driver on the race track. She was seen skillfully driving the BMW M5 ring taxi around the Nürburgring, and it drew lots of attention. Following this, she was essentially paid to bring people along in the taxi to show them the proper racing lines, and scare the absolute s*** out of them. Sabine had also stated that she had put down more than 20,000 laps at the track throughout her lifetime. It's understandable that she had it completely mastered.

Her talent on the Nürburgring granted her success in many ways. She created her own company, Sabine Schmitz Motorsport, which offers advanced driver training, and a ring taxi service for those passengers looking for a fun time. 2011 was the last year Sabine herself drove the ring taxi. Her popularity also led to an introduction into television. She became a motorsports guest commentator at first, then transitioned to co-host German show, D Motor. Following this, she was featured on her first British program, Jeremy Clarkson: Meets the Neighbours, where she took him for a ride around the race track. I think we all know where her television career led after this.

Sabine created countless memories for herself and so many others as she spent her time on Top Gear, and the Nürburgring. Her bubbly personality was perfect for television, and luckily, her spirit was perfectly captured anytime she was in front of a camera. She will be truly missed, and I wholeheartedly can say that she made a positive impact on the world. Rest in peace Sabine Schmitz.