We will miss her and her cheerful nature. Top Gear . "Sabine Schmitz passed away far too early after a long illness. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Tributes have flooded in for German racing driver Sabine Schmitz, who has died at the age of 51. 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. RIP., 13-year-old opera singer leaves BGT panel in tears with golden buzzer performance, Paul Burrell wants to represent 'dads struggling with sexuality' on I'm A Celeb All Stars, Carol Vorderman 'attacked by monkey' during I'm A Celeb All Stars isolation. The Queen of the Nrburgring had been battling cancer for over three years. Its in my blood.. She was 51 years old. He wrote: 'Rest in peace you wonderful, powerful, hilarious person', Top Gear presenters (left to right) Chris Harris, Rory Reid, Sabine Schmitz, Chris Evans, Eddie Jordan and The Stig during the launch of the new-look car show in 2016. Sabine Schmitz, 51, was a German professional motor racing driver for both BMW and Porsche. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Logos 1996. [5], Schmitz's company, Nrburgring-based Sabine Schmitz Motorsport, offers advanced driver training and a "ring taxi" service for passengers. They put on racing tires, took off the license plates and raced it on the track, Beat Schmitz said about Sabine and the family. So, sweethearts, now you have an update. ", "Top Gear presenters: Virtually unknown Chris Harris and Sabine Schmitz 'to be Chris Evans' sidekicks', "The Queen of the 'Ring: Sabine Schmitz will not slow down", "Top Gear's Sabine Schmitz reveals three-year battle with cancer", "Sabine Schmitz dead: Top Gear star and 'Queen of the Nrburgring' racing driver dies, aged 51", "Sabine Schmitz, Racing Driver and TV Personality, Dies at 51", "Nordschleife corner named after late Nurburgring ace Schmitz", "1995 South African Touring Car Championship", "South African Touring Car Championship 1995 standings | Driver Database", "Sabine Schmitz, former racing driver and Top Gear presenter, dies aged 51", Part 2 One Lap with Ford Transit (diesel) in 10:08 at TopGear, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sabine_Schmitz&oldid=1124411785, WeatherTech SportsCar Championship drivers, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 November 2022, at 20:02. The motorsport world is mourning the tragic death of female pioneer Sabine Schmitz, who died on Wednesday at age 51. 'Since the end of 2017, I have been fighting an extremely persistent cancer that has not been eliminated with the resources so far. or redistributed. Schmitz revealed last year she had been battling cancer since 2017. Rest in peace Sabine!". [7], In December 2004, Schmitz gained further recognition in the United Kingdom after appearing in the BBC television programme Top Gear with presenter Jeremy Clarkson. 'I would like to provide enlightenment here, I think I owe it to my/our fans! The Sabine Schmitz top gear stint saw her also work withChris Evans, Matt LeBlanc, and Paddy McGuinness and Andrew Flintoff during her spell on Top Gear. Brilliantly bonkers and an amazing human being! ', Sabine Schmitz in her Porsche racing overalls. Our sympathy goes to her family and friends., Schmitz went on to make regular appearances on Top Gear, and the shows former host, Jeremy Clarkson, tweeted: Terrible news about Sabine Schmitz. '', The racing team whichSchmitz founded with her husband Klaus Abbelen, 60, a fellow driver, announced her death last month describing her 'brave fight against cancer.'. 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. No money from the licence fee was used to create this website. Frikadelli Racing, the team she founded with husband Klaus Abbelen, confirmed the news earlier on Wednesday. She was 51. [16][17] The Nrburgring have renamed the first corner of the Nordschleife loop as the "Sabine-Schmitz-Kurve" posthumously in her honour.[18]. [7], Her first appearance on British television was on the 2002 BBC programme Jeremy Clarkson: Meets the Neighbours, where she took Clarkson around the Nrburgring in the "ring taxi". She joined the show as a regular presenter when Chris Evans took over in 2016 following Jeremy Clarkson's exit. Source Bbc. 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. 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. She was also a qualified helicopter pilot. So I say goodbye 'probably' for the first time this season. The former Top Gear host had a long battle with cancer before her untimely passing on Tuesday, March 16 (Wednesday IST). We will miss her and her cheerful nature. The 51-year-old, known as the Queen of Nurburgring, grew popular as the Top Gear's host but succumbed to her long-term illness. NRBURG, Germany Former racing driver Sabine Schmitz, the 'Queen of the Nrburgring' who was also a presenter of the popular BBC "Top Gear" television . RIP Sabine., The Nrburgring has lost its most famous female racing driver.Sabine Schmitz passed away far too early after a long illness. Schmitz grew up near Germany's legendary Nrburgring circuit. Did you encounter any technical issues? Fans want to know more about Sabine Schmitz's life and husband. 3 min read. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Sabine, the only woman ever to win. [3] In 2006 Schmitz and Klaus Abbelen drove the #97 Porsche 997 in the Nrburgring VLN endurance racing series, entered by Land Motorsport. Sabine Schmitz passed away yesterday after her brave fight against cancer, a statement read. 03/17/2021 The German racing legend was the only woman to win the 24-hours of Nrburgring, doing it twice. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. At the time of her revelation, Schmitz was still making recurring appearances on Top Gear. He said. Brilliantly bonkers and an amazing human being! So, I say goodbye 'probably' for the first time this season. She always will be unreachable in the Green Hell. She favored escapades in which she would try to pass other drivers while driving a less powerful car than theirs. 2021. 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 two-time @24hNBR winner was an icon at the wheel of the #Frikadelli #Porsche. She finished third in the 2008 edition. God bless her soul.. RIP Angel #sabineschmitz, one posted. All rights reserved. 'Klaus Abbelen and all relatives and friends are deeply saddened by the immeasurable loss,'Frikadelli Racing said in a statement. Top Gear star Sabine Schmitz has been remembered as "powerful and irrepressible" and "a proper driving legend" after her death at the age of 51. In 2006, she teamed up with Abbelen, who she married a year later, to race a Porsche 997 in the VLN. On Twitter, Nrburgring said it had lost its most famous female racing driver, adding, Sabine Schmitz passed away far too early after a long illness.. She was the only woman to win the epic 24-hour race at the storied Nrburgring track in Germany. Top Gear TV series 34 filming paused after Freddie Flintoffs accident, This 12m number plate has set a new world record at auction. RIP the great Sabine Schmitz. 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. 'Now I have to draw all the strength and nerve to master the next powerful therapies hoping something [good] will happen. Schmitz, who was widely known as Queen of the Nrburgring, later impressed with her own team Frikadelli Racing, which she had founded with her husband, Klaus Abbelen. Many in the racing world paid tribute to Schmitz on Wednesday. RIP the great Sabine Schmitz. In 1996, she became the first woman to win its famous 24 Hours race, driving a BMW. Schmitz grew up close to the Nrburgring circuit in western Germany. The Nrburgring has lost its most famous female racing driver. 'She was 51 years old. Rest in peace Sabine!. My mother would drive that same car to the hairdresser or to do groceries., He added, Its just like the kid who is born next to the soccer stadium and is in a soccer team at 5.. Sabine Schmitz, former racing driver and Top Gear presenter, dies aged 51 Nicholas Williams , Source: As credited Wed 17 Mar 2021 09.45 EDT Last modified on Wed 17 Mar 2021 12.45 EDT 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. "We are all deeply saddened to hear that Sabine Schmitz has passed away," said . Image: AAP The motorsport world is mourning the tragic death of female pioneer Sabine Schmitz, who died on. 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, she wrote in a social media post. [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". 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. One of her most popular moments on the show occurred in 2009, when she tried to complete a lap on the Nrburgring circuit in less than 10 minutes with a Ford van. Here's a look at what happened to Sabine Schmitz and the cause of her tragic death. 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Wed 17 Mar 2021 07.02 EDT Last modified on Thu 18 Mar 2021 04.40 EDT. ': Royal fans hit out at King Charles' coronation quiche as Slice to see you! [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. The Nrburgring has lost its most famous female racing driver. In addition, I would like to thank everyone for their help and support in my everyday life, and encouragement in writing! 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. Discovery Company. Schmitz, 51, grew up in her family's hotel located within the confines of the 13-mileNrburgringNordschleife racingcircuit and went on to become one of the track's most successful drivers and most recognizable face, earning her the nickname of "Queen of the Ring.". Market data provided by Factset. German racing legend Sabine Schmitz has tragically passed away aged 51 and it has been revealed that the answer to 'What Happened to Sabine Schmitz?' [1], Schmitz came to mass public attention driving one of the two BMW M5 "ring taxis" around the 20.8km (12.9mi)-long race track in an entertaining manner. We will miss her and her cheerful nature. "My deepest condolences to the family. The "Queen of Nordschleife" was a crowd favourite due to her open, humorous way," the tweet reads. pic.twitter.com/awtbOnMD90, Paddy McGuinness (@PaddyMcGuinness) March 17, 2021, #NLS - Very sad to hear that Sabine Schmitz (1969-2021) has passed away. It was around this time that Schmitz became known for her entertaining laps in a BMW M5 'ring taxi,' taking visitors around the Nurburgring at breakneck professional speeds. Sabine Schmitz passed away far too early after a long illness. Our sincere condolences to all her family and friends., Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Sabine Schmitz: Top Gear presenter and 'Queen of Nrburgring' video obituary, Schmitz is the only woman to win the 24 Hours of Nrburgring, Held a role as a presenter on Top Gear alongside Chris Evans. Anyone can read what you share. Sabine Schmitz passed away far too early after a long illness. We will miss her and her cheerful nature. The racing icon also became known as the 'worlds fastest taxi driver' by driving passengers around the track in a BMW M5. TheNurburgring, her home track, mourned the loss of 'its most famous female racing driver', writing on Twitter: 'We will miss her and her cheerful nature. Schmitz was best known to British audiences for her appearances on the BBC's Top Gear programme, including races with Jeremy Clarkson, Chris Evans and Paddy McGuinness. TheNurburgring, her home track, mourned the loss of 'its most famous female racing driver', writing on Twitter: We will miss her and her cheerful nature. It got a little better but now it's come back with full force. Following a long battle with her illness, she passed away on Tuesday, 16th March 2021, at the age of 51. . The racing team whichSchmitz founded with her husband Klaus Abbelen, 60, a fellow driver, announced her death today describing her 'brave fight against cancer.'. Sabine is the queen at Nrburgring. What a driver. The comments below have not been moderated. appreciated. ", Fellow presenter Chris Harris added: Rest in peace you wonderful, powerful, hilarious person.. Brilliantly bonkers and an amazing human being! Im glad @BBC_TopGear did a tribute to her. 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. What a woman Sabine was! The German driver . By clicking subscribe, you agree to receive news, promotions and offers by email from Top Gear and BBC Studios. 'Sabine Schmitz (14.5.1969 - 16.3.2021) passed away yesterday (Tuesday) after her brave fight against cancer,' the team said in a statement. Her familiarity with the circuit earned her the nicknames "Queen of the Nrburgring" and "the fastest taxi driver in the world". 'Sabine Schmitz (14.5.1969 16.3.2021) passed away yesterday (Tuesday) after her brave fight against cancer,' the team said in a statement. Seeing her races was inspirational and motivating. Sabine Schmitz, the only female winner of the 24 Hours of Nrburgring, has died at the age of 51. RIP the great Sabine Schmitz. She said her favourite parts of the track were the Schwedenkreuz (Swedish Cross) and Fuchsrhre (Fox Hole). Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. Fittingly, the circuit itself was among the first to pay tribute. Picture: PA By Patrick Grafton-Green Racing driver and Top Gear presenter Sabine Schmitz has died at the age of 51. University Challenge contestant leaves fans besotted by her VERY expressive reactions Do not sell or share my personal information. Formula One paid tribute to Schmitz on Twitter: We are all deeply saddened to hear that Sabine Schmitz has passed away. Many of her former colleagues and co-stars paid tribute to Schmitz on social media following the news of her death. She was able to recite the names of the 73 turns by heart, and she first completed it at age 17 with her mothers car, before she had a driving license. EXCLUSIVE: Grandmother, 86, who arranged for her daughter-in-law, 27, to be lured to India and murdered in Could WhatsApp be BANNED in Britain? Schmitz also raced for the Porsche motorsport team, which posted its own tribute on Twitter. Schmitzs time on Top Gear brought a non-British touch to a show mostly run by men and aimed at them. Published Rotten news. Sabine Schmitz was born on May 14, 1969 in Adenau, in Western Germany. 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. Sabine Schmitz passed away far too early after a long illness. Sabine Schmitz passed away far too early after a long illness. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. She managed to get within 10 seconds of the saloon car. She founded her own racing team and later became a popular TV personality. Such a sunny person and so full of beans, Clarkson tweeted. 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