International Women’s Day: Women Legends Of Motorsport

Aside from breaking stereotypes, these women have also paved the way for many females in the world of motorsport racing.

On 2024 International Women's Day, we at Acko Drive have decided to pay homage and acknowledge the fearless women who have left an indelible mark in various fields of motorsport racing. From Formula 1 to rallying, these women defied cliches and conquered the fast-paced world of motorsports with their extraordinary achievements. These special female racers have proved that motorsports isn’t a field reserved for men and showed great skills to break stereotypes and records. 

Formula One - Maria Teresa de Filippis & Lella Lombardi

Formula 1 has always been a male-dominated sport, and it remains so even today, sadly.  However, in the past, two defiant souls went against all odds to prove otherwise. 

Maria Teresa de Fillipis was the first woman to ever race in Formula 1. Once prevented from racing (French Grand Prix) because the racing director believed that the only helmet a woman should wear is “the one at the hairdresser’s,” Maria was the forerunner for women in motorsports. Never one to stop from following her passion, she raced with Maserati and later with Behra-Porsche. A near-fatal accident in Germany, followed by the death of her ex-boyfriend Luigi Musso in the French Grand Prix, was too much for Maria, after which she bowed out from the sport.

While Maria Teresa de Fillipis fell short of scoring a championship point, 10 years after her departure came another Italian woman who achieved that feat: Lella Lombardi. Interestingly Lombardi started her career driving the delivery van for her family’s butcher shop, while simultaneously racing karts. But before making her F1 debut in 1975, Lombardi had successfully created a reputation of being one of the fastest women racers the world had ever seen. Lombardi even raced in the US F5000 series alongside F1 star and 1976 World Champion, James Hunt. She made her GP debut in the British GP at Brands Hatch, in a Brabham BT42 rented by Bernie Ecclestone, and scored her first point in her second outing only. Ironically, Lombardi scored half points after finishing sixth in the race and was cut short from 75 laps to 29 laps due to a tragic accident that took the lives of five spectators too. 

No women racer has since participated in the discipline even though there have been multiple test sessions over the years. The W series initiative is one of the forerunners in getting more females into higher forms of motor racing. So, hopefully, we should see the wait for the next female F1 racer cut short in the coming few years.

Group B Rallying - Michele Mouton

Considered by many as the greatest female driver to ever grace the sport, Michele Mouton was very fondly described by Niki Lauda himself as a “superwoman”. Mouton was also one of the first to put Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive technology into rallying. She won four rallies with the German manufacturer, and in the 1982 World Championship, she finished as a runner-up. Mouton, who started her career on the French Riviera hills at 14, also dominated the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in 1986 (with the same Audi Sport Quattro rally car). If you want to witness her remarkable journey, it has been beautifully captured in the 2022 Emmy-winning documentary, "Queen of Speed." 

Dakar Rally - Jutta Kleinschmidt

In the grueling world of the Dakar Rally, Jutta Kleinschmidt made history in 2001 as the first woman to conquer the car category. Her victory in a Mitsubishi Pajero, alongside co-driver Andreas Schulz, is one of the most distinct historical moments. Jutta still continues to race and is now racing in the electric off-roading series Extreme E. She even continues to break barriers alongside fellow Dakar winner Nasser Al-Attiyah.

IndyCar - Danica Patrick

The IndyCar witnessed a historic moment in 2008 when Danica Patrick became the first woman to not just participate in the sport but also claim victory at the Indy Japan 300. She continues to remain the only shining example even today. Her podium finishes and poles not just shattered gender norms, but also paved the way for increased female representation in the sport, which has proven to be quite successful as a lot of female drivers have followed her footsteps and raced in the American circuit racing scene, be it in IndyCars, NASCAR or both.

Moto3 - Ana Carasco 

In the male-dominated world of Moto3, Ana Carasco has emerged as a leading female rider. Racing since the age of three, Carasco made history in 2017 by becoming the first woman to win an individual world motorcycle race in Portugal. Her triumphs continued in 2018 when she secured the inaugural World Supersport 300 title, making her a global role model for aspiring female riders. In doing so, she also became the first female rider to win a FIM-backed World Championship, beating a lot of top young talents along the way.

Aishwarya Pissay - India's Speed Queen

Our homegrown talent, Aishwarya Pissay, has been conquering track and rally stages for years. From becoming one of the first woman factory racers signed by TVS Racing in 2017, Pissay has six Indian National Rally Championship class victories to her name. Pissay's achievements have elevated her to a pedestal of inspiration for aspiring racers in India. Aishwarya Pissay is a vivid representation of what one can achieve if one follows their passion and hobby. She continues to race today, and she is also one of the key jury members for the Acko Drive Awards.