Written by Alejandra Guajardo Lozano, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
Women have played an influential role throughout the history of motor racing. Many have taken to the wheels of motorsport machines, while numerous figures have worked tirelessly on the sidelines in various roles, shaping the racing world to the present day.
Today, we shine the spotlight on an influential woman, a figure who paved the way for younger generations of girls to take to the world of motorsport.
Jutta Kleinschmidt, born in Cologne, Germany, is a courageous and dedicated woman and driver. She is not only talented on the tarmac, but off it too, having studied physics at Isny Politech and worked at BMW.
Kleinschmidt’s motorsport debut was in 1988 when she raced her first Paris-Dakar Rally on a BMW motorcycle. She raced motorcycles until 1944 when she switched to cars. By 1997, she demonstrated great skill and gained a record, becoming the first woman to win a stage of the Rally.
This achievement proved to be a great step for women in motorsport, but it was just about to get better. In 2001, she won the Dakar Rally with Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution, becoming the first woman and first German to win the endurance event.
In 2013, she was recognised as an International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) Legend for her motorcycling career. Her career continued in 2021 when she raced in Extreme E, an all-electric series aimed to raise awareness of climate change. She raced for two seasons, placing sixth on her first campaign.
Kleinschmidt is currently the President of the FIA Cross Country Rally Commission, dedicating herself to introducing environmentally friendly technologies to the sport. She has impacted the sport in many ways, breaking stereotypes and standing out in such a male-dominated sport. She is truly a superwoman.
“Stop listening to the negative voice in your head. Become unstoppable – push your limits. You deserve to become the best version of yourself!” Jutta Kleinschmidt with Premium Speakers.
Comments