Top Gear stars remember ‘wonderful, powerful’ Sabine Schmitz

Top Gear stars Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris have paid tribute to Sabine Schmitz following her death aged 51, as it was revealed this Sunday’s episode of the motoring series will be dedicated to her.

German driver Schmitz, known as the Queen of the Nurburgring, revealed last year that she had been battling cancer since 2017.

She appeared on Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and became part of the presenting team when Chris Evans revamped the show in 2015.

McGuinness shared a picture of himself and Schmitz in a car on Instagram, writing alongside it: “I spent a glorious couple of days in a Ferrari with Sabine and she hunted me down in a banger race.

“What a woman, what a legacy, what a life. Very sad news. RIP the great Sabine Schmitz”.

Top Gear host Harris tweeted: “Rest in peace you wonderful, powerful, hilarious person”.

Former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson also paid tribute to Schmitz, tweeting: “Terrible news about Sabine Schmitz. Such a sunny person and so full of beans”.

Schmitz was the only female winner of the 24 Hours Of Nurburgring, the famous German racing track.

Clare Pizey, Top Gear’s executive producer, said in a statement on behalf of the Top Gear team: “Sabine was a beloved member of the Top Gear family and presenting team since 2016, having first appeared on the show in 2004, and everyone who had the pleasure of working with her on the team is in shock at this news.

“The Queen of the Nurburgring, Sabine radiated positivity, always wore her cheeky smile no matter how hard things got – and was a force of nature for women drivers in the motoring world.

“Like everyone else who knew her, we will truly miss her – Sabine really was one of a kind.

“Our thoughts are with her partner Klaus who was always by her side and who we welcomed to Dunsfold many times, and her family in Germany.”

A tweet from the official Nurburgring account said: “The Nurburgring 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!”.

Drive Tribe, the online platform started by Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, tweeted: “We are saddened by the loss of Sabine Schmitz. Beyond almost beating Clarkson in a Ford Transit and a number of other Top Gear appearances, Sabine was a talented racer, winning the infamous Nurburgring 24h on multiple occasions. The Queen of the Nordschleife…”.

Schmitz announced via social media last year that she was absent from the Nurburgring Endurance Series due to her ongoing battle with cancer.

In the post, she said that “Since the end of 2017, I have been fighting an extremely persistent cancer that has not been eliminated with the resources so far.

“It got a little better – but now it’s come back with full force”.

“Now I have to draw all the strength and nerve to master the next powerful therapies … hoping something [good] will happen.

“So I say goodbye ‘probably’ for the first time this season.

“In addition, I would like to thank everyone for their help and support in my everyday life, and encouragement in writing!

“So sweethearts, now you have an update. Please stay healthy and cheerful, see you at the ‘Ring.”

Many well-known faces have taken to social media to celebrate Schmitz’s life, including racing driver Tiff Needell, as well as former Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy.