Sabine Schmitz

German motor racing driver

Sabine Schmitz (German: [za'bi.n? ?m?t?s]; 14 May 1969 – 16 March 2021) was a German professional motor racing driver and television personality.

Born in Adenau to a family in the hotel and catering business, and raised in one of the villages nestled within the Nürburgring race track, she initially trained to join the same profession as her parents, before choosing to begin a career in racing, working as a driver for BMW and Porsche.

She became known for being an expert on the Nürburgring circuit, winning two victories in endurance races during the course of her driving career on the circuit, and became a cult icon on television following her appearance on BBC's Top Gear, making recurring appearances alongside several of the programme's presenters.

Schmitz died of cancer, in March 2021, at the age of 51, following a diagnosis in late 2017.