Sabine Schmitz: German racing legend and Top Gear presenter dies aged 51

Sabine Schmitz was a popular figure in motorsport. Credit: PA

German racing legend Sabine Schmitz has died from cancer at the age of 51.

Schmitz, who also appeared on popular motor show Top Gear, revealed on Facebook last year that she had been receiving treatment for a “persistent” cancer since 2017.

In that post, written on July 19 last year, she signed off to her fans by saying “see you at the ring.”

This Sunday’s episode of Top Gear will be dedicated to Schmitz, the show's team has said.

The Nürburgring, a famous German racing track known to be one of the toughest circuits in the sport, said in a brief statement on Wednesday that is “has lost its most famous female racing driver.”

“Sabine Schmitz passed away far too early after a long illness,” it added.

“We will miss her and her cheerful nature. Rest in peace Sabine!”

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

Current host Paddy 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”.

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.”