In The Eternal Racing Tracks, we remember drivers and paddock figures who have made a significant impact on motorsport and their rules and regulations. Part 7 of this series is dedicated to the Queen of the Nürburgring, Sabine Schmitz, who passed away after a four-year battle with cancer aged 51. This would mark another death in what is becoming a tragic year for motorsport, following those of Adrián Campos, Fausto Gresini and Murray Walker.
It was almost written in the stars that Sabine would garner such a notorious reputation for taming one of the most infamous tracks on the globe. Sabine and her two elder sisters grew up in the Hotel am Tiergarten on the site of the Nürburgring track in Germany, whilst all three sisters embarked on a career in racing, only Sabine would continue racing.
Following victories in the Castrol-HAUGG-Cup (CHC) and Veranstaltergemeinschaft Langstreckenpokal Nürburgring (VLN) race events in the early 1990s, Sabine would become the first woman to win the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in 1996, driving a BMW M3 alongside Johannes Scheid. She won it again a year later in 1997, and then claimed the VLN-championship in 1998. Sabine entered the 24-hour race on a further three occasions, finishing 3rd in 2008 in a Porsche 997 with husband Klaus Abbelen. She would go on to finish 9th in 2011 and 6th in 2012.
Her success at the 14-mile circuit earned her the nickname of ‘Queen of the Nürburgring’ as well as ‘the fastest taxi driver in the world’ for driving passengers around the track in a BMW M5, which she continued to do until 2011. Sabine would also make appearances in the World Touring Car Championship rounds at the Nordschleife in 2015 and 2016. Driving a Chevrolet Cruze for All–Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport, the German driver recorded 10th and 11th place finishes in Race 1 and 2 in both years.
In between her racing exploits, Sabine made a number of appearances on BBC’s Top Gear, coaching host Jeremy Clarkson to lapping a Jaguar S-Type diesel in under 10 minutes (9 minute and 59 seconds to be precise) on the Nordschleife in 2004. Sabine would not only lap 47 seconds quicker in the same car, she famously stated “I could beat that lap time in a van” in response to Clarkson’s effort. Schmitz would commit to her word and in the next series, drove a Ford Transit diesel van in an attempt to beat Clarkson’s time set in the Jaguar, she missed out by just 9 seconds.
Back in the world of racing, Schmitz was entered to compete in the Nürburgring 24 Hours Race for a sixth time in July 2020, she was removed from the entry list in the run up to the race. In a Facebook post on her page, Sabine stated:
“Dear friends of neat motorsport 😁
Many of you must have wondered why I was on the list of participants on our Porsche in the NSL and then didn’t drive. I would like to provide information here, I think I owe it to my / our fans!
Since the end of 2017, I have been fighting an extremely persistent cancer, which has not been able to deal with the means to date. It got a little better – but now he’s come back full force. Now I have to draw all the strength and registers to powerfully overcome the next therapies… hoping that something will happen. So I’m ′′ probably ′′ saying goodbye 😜 first for this season.
In addition, I would like to thank everyone for their help and support in my daily routine and encouragement in writing!
So sweethearts, now you have an update. Please stay healthy and cheerful, see you at the ring 👋😘 ”
It was sadly announced on March 17th 2021 that Sabine had lost her battle against cancer. The track’s social media channel paid tribute to one of their most famous drivers.
“The Nürburgring has lost its most famous female racing driver.
Sabine Schmitz passed away far too early after a long illness. We will miss her and her cheerful nature. Rest in peace Sabine!”
Sabine will be remembered for her charismatic presence at one of the fiercest tracks on the globe, and the only female to win the Nürburgring 24 Hours Race to date. The motorsport community has lost another incredible role model.
