Michèle Mouton

Michèle Mouton (Grasse, France, 23 June 1951) is a former French rally driver and one of the most prominent figures in the history of women in motorsport. She began her rally career in 1973 and competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1975, where her all-female crew won its class.

In 1981 she joined Audi as a works driver. That same year, with Fabrizia Pons as her co-driver and driving an Audi Quattro, she won Rally Sanremo and became the first woman —and so far the only one— to win a World Rally Championship event outright. In 1982 she finished runner-up in the World Rally Championship after victories in Portugal, Greece and Brazil. She remained part of Audi’s works programme through 1985.

In 1985 Mouton won the Pikes Peak hill climb and set a new event record, and in 1986 she became German rally champion. After retiring from competition, she co-founded the Race of Champions and later held FIA roles involving, among other areas, the promotion of women’s participation in motorsport.