Michèle Mouton

Michèle Mouton, born on June 23, 1951, in Grasse, France, is a distinguished former rally driver celebrated for her remarkable achievements in motorsport. Mouton made her mark in the World Rally Championship (WRC) as a part of the Audi factory team, securing four significant victories and finishing as the runner-up in the drivers' world championship in 1982.

Her rallying career began as a co-driver, but she swiftly transitioned to driving, debuting with an Alpine-Renault A110 in national events. Mouton first gained major recognition in 1975 after winning the two-litre prototype class at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 1977, she joined Fiat France, where she finished second in the European Rally Championship behind Bernard Darniche. Her triumphs continued with a victory in the 1978 Tour de France Automobile and strong performances in the Monte Carlo Rally and Tour de Corse.

In 1981, Mouton joined Audi Sport and achieved a stunning victory at the Rallye Sanremo with the Audi Quattro. During the 1982 season, she took wins in Portugal, Brazil, and Greece, contributing to Audi's first manufacturers' title. Following a fifth-place finish in 1983, her participation in the WRC became part-time due to a competitive roster. Mouton's legacy includes winning the 1985 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and making history in 1986 as the first female driver to win the German Rally Championship. After retiring from rallying due to the ban of Group B supercars, she co-founded the Race of Champions in 1988 and took on leadership roles within the FIA, including as the first president of the Women & Motor Sport Commission in 2010.