Fast female racer Sabine Schmitz will race for the Münnich Motorsport World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) team around the Nürburgring Nordschleife in May, taking the wheel of the team’s second Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 car.
Taking on 19 of her male rivals, Schmitz will line up alongside Stefano D’Aste in the German team’s second car. She has signed up to participate in the two WTCC races scheduled for the 25 km race which supports the Nürburgring 24 Hour race in May.
Few drivers are as familiar with the ‘Ring as Schmitz, who grew up at the family hotel within sight of the legendary 170-corner circuit. The driver and TV presenter has previously won the Nürburgring 24-Hours race with the factory Porsche team, and she now runs a high-speed taxi service around the circuit to show visitors how to take the circuit at full speed. Typically Schmidt will complete more than 30,000 laps of the circuit each year.
Schmitz will promote the FIA Women in Motorsport initiative during her appearance in the championship from 15-16 May. She is not the first female to race in the series, however, with the late María de Villota racing in the series in selected outings in 2006 and 2007.
“I am really happy that I have the opportunity to take part in the WTCC,” said 45-year-old Schmitz, who will return to racing after a one-year absence. “In my eyes it is the best racing series we have. I could have entered the championship a race earlier, but sadly that didn’t work with my agenda. But the WTCC Test Day on the Nordschleife on 28 April will be very important and good for my preparation.
“I will stay realistic with my goals for the races. There are some very good drivers on the grid and even if some of them don’t know the Nordschleife very well, they are the best touring car drivers in the world. But maybe the weather is on my side. I love to drive on the Nordschleife when it’s raining and we get plenty of rain there.”
WTCC General Manager François Ribeiro is delighted to be able to welcome a high-level personality like Schmitz to the series’ blue-riband event of the season.
“We are thrilled to welcome a great talent and personality like Sabine Schmitz to the WTCC family and we can’t wait to watch her at the wheel of a new-generation TC1 World Touring Car on the world’s toughest race circuit against the best touring car drivers,” said Ribeiro. “The Nürburgring Nordschleife will be a peak event in the season, the race all our drivers want to win.
“While Sabine doesn’t have experience of driving her ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Chevrolet, her professional racing background and intimate knowledge of the track will mean there’s no reason why she can’t challenge the male WTCC drivers.”