Motorsport has always been considered a male domain, but history indicates that women may also be exceptional riders capable of winning the track. Despite the numerous challenges and stereotypes, some women were able to distinguish themselves in vehicles and become real speed queens.
Contrary to stereotypes, the representatives of the beautiful half of humanity have achieved considerable success in the automotive industry. Moreover, even in such a difficult sport, women have achieved outstanding victories. We will talk about the six most prominent riders in history. Their examples refute the statement that the vehicle is a purely male hobby.
Founder
Not everyone knows that the vehicle is, in fact, a female invention. The world's first long -distance car rage was carried out by Bert Benz - the wife of the inventor of the car Carl Benz.
The landmark event occurred on August 5, 1888. Frau Benz with her sons Oygen and Richard decided to visit her mother to the neighboring city of Pfortzheim and used a Benz Patent-Motorwagen No 3.
At the end of the nineteenth century, the first cars were considered toys. Berta Benz decided to test a new vehicle to prove that this invention is entitled to life.
The distance from the Benz family in Mannheim to Pforttsheim was 106 km. By the current standards, it is not enough, but 130 years ago it was not without problems. Initially, the fuel ended, and Bert was forced to look for a pharmacy to buy ether (the engine worked on it, not on gasoline).
Then the drive chain broke, but it was repaired by a rural blacksmith. Mrs. Benz's fuel pump was already cleared with a pin, and a regular stocking was an isolation for rubbed wire. After reaching the mother, Berte telegraph her husband about the successful completion of the run.
Nowadays, retro cars are held on his route, and now there is a monument to the founder of the vehicle near the same pharmacy where gasoline was bought. In addition, Mercedes-Benz released a short-sided Benz.
Queen steering
The golden era of the vehicle is considered to be the interwar years. A hundred years ago, thousands of spectators gathered. One of the stars of those years is considered to be the Czech racer Elishka Yunkov. At first, she was a navigator and a mechanic in the crew of Vincent's husband, and when he injured her hand, she was at the wheel of Bugatti Type 30.
In 1924, Elyshka won her debut victory in the Czechoslovak race "Lohotin-Tremoshnaya", and two years later she declared her at the international level-became the first in her class at her famous German Nurgings.
In 1928, Ms. Yunkova moved to the more perfect and faster Bugatti Type 35 yellow and took fifth place in the legendary Italian Targa Florio. Famous ASI Taizoolar and Ernesto Mazerty remained behind. Journalists called Elishka Queen helm.
However, soon the career of the riders was sharply cut short due to the tragic death of Vincent Ynek at the Germany Grand Prix. Elyshka could not put up with the loss - she sold Bugatti and never participated in the competition again.
In addition, the communist authorities of Czechoslovakia did everything to forget about Elishka - they were not written about it, it was not released abroad. Only after the fall of the communist regime in 1989, the 89-year-old racer was able to go to the United States, where she became an honorary guest at the gift of Bugatti owners.
An unsurpassed Michelle
Frenchwoman Michelle Muton is considered to be the most titled rally racetra. In the 1980s, she impressed her skill at the stages of the World Cup with Rally.
Michel was interested in races from childhood and at the age of 14 competed on a modest parent Citroen 2CV. She then moved to the Alpine A110 sports car and in 1974 became a European Champion of Rally. And a year later, the female crew Michelle Mutton, Marian Hephaner and Christine Dacremon became the first in her class in the famous 24-hour Less-Mann 24-hour race.
In 1980, the Audi Factory Team came to the Rally Championship and the muton was invited to pilot the famous Audi Quattro. A 320 hp full -wheel drive vehicle. Almost immediately he obeyed the charming Frenchman. In the 1981-1982 seasons, the riders won four victories on it, and in 1982 she even won a silver medal in the championship.
And in 1985, Michelle Muton sensationally won the most complex Pikes Peak mountain racing in the United States, and even with record time. Two years later, the riders left the vehicle, but from time to time participated in sign competitions. So, in 2000, at Porsche 911, she became the second in the London -Sydney marathon. In 2010-2012, Michelle Muton headed the women's commission of the International Federation of FIA Motor Sports and assisted the novice ransomers. And in 2011, she was awarded the Order of Honorary Legion.
Desert conqueror
Paris-Dakar rally is considered one of the most difficult races in the world, but the German racer Utt Kleinshmidt dreamed of winning it from a young age. She is a physicist by education, but very quickly realized that science was not her calling. Since 1988, UTTA participated in the Paris-Dakar Marathon on a motorcycle, and in 1994 she decided to move to the car.
Three years later, Kleynshmidt was the first among women to win one of the stages of rally, and in 2001 at Mitsubishi Pajero - sensationally won in a grueling marathon. A year later, Utt became a silver medalist at Paris-Dakar, and in 2005 she came to the finish line.
Star Indycar
In the third millennium, the motorway became more popular with representatives of the beautiful sex. Women have increased in various racing series, and one of the most successful of them was Danika Patrick from the United States. Danika has been engaged in auto racing from 10 years. In 2005, she sat down at the wheel of Indycar's car and immediately struck everyone with a fourth place in the 500 miles of Indianapolis. On this oval route cars are accelerated to almost 400 km/h!
Three years later, the American became the author of a real sensation-winning the Grand Prix of Japan in 2008 and became the first woman to win in Indycar. Danika has repeatedly rose to the pedestal of honor, and its best achievement in the championship was fifth in 2009. From 2011 to 2018, Danika Patrick spoke in no less difficult NASCAR championship, and now comments on television races.
Invincible Stir
Erica Enders is the most titled hazelist of all time and peoples. The American has become a champion in Dragreysing six times. She has been engaged in auto racing from the age of 8. At the age of 16, Erica began to compete in the NHRA Championship, and already at 19 - won her first victory at the stage. In total, she already has 48 wins.
The American racer stands on a seriously upgraded Chevrolet Camaro SS - in fact, nothing left in the serial car. This is a real beast with an 8.2-liter V8 for forces. Up to hundreds of Dragster starts in just 0.8 s and overcomes the standard distance of 1/4 mile (402 m) for only 6.5 s, developing 340-350 km/h at the finish line. And it slows its brake parachute-as in a fighter aircraft.
