From the TAXI ring to the States

August 25, 2008

Sabine Schmitz didn't have the typical race car driver upbringing.

Schmitz's parents were hotel and restaurant owners, and Sabine grew up with her two sisters in the "Hotel am Tiergarten," in Nurburg, Germany. Schmitz, initially, followed in the family business -- first training as a "hotelfachfrau," and eventually as owner of a bar in Nurburg -- the Foxhole.

She and her two sisters began racing in the early '90s, but it was Schmitz who would garner the most on-track success in the family. In 1998, she won the CHC and VLN races, as well as the VLN endurance racing championship. She was the first woman to win a 24-hour race -- claiming the victory at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in 1996 and 1997.

When Schmitz had to briefly give up her professional racing career due to lack of funding, she began driving 1,100 to 1,200 laps every year in the "Ring Taxi" and runs a famous establishment in Nurburg.

"Some get out before the lap is over, saying "Thank you, I'll walk the rest of the way," described Schmitz. "Many people don't know the track and don't know what to expect."

Nicknamed "everyone's favorite Nürburgring Taxi driver," Schmitz, is coming to America to race in Grand Am Koni Challenge events at New Jersey Motorsport Park and Iowa Speedway. Sitting behind the wheel of a VW GTI race car, Sabine will be filling in for Randy Pobst at APR Motorsport.

"I am really excited to get the chance to race in KONI Challenge, in a German car with Mark White and APR Motorsport," said Scmitz. "I have spent a lot of time with the APR Motorsport Team, as well as Mark over the years, including spending some time this past spring on the Nordschleife in a GTI race car. We all developed a great amount of respect and friendship for one another and I hope to do a good job for team, as filling Randy Pobst's seat is not easy!"

Schmitz worldwide appeal started while driving one of the two BMW M5 "Ring taxi" around the 20.8km long race track in an entertaining manner. According to her own estimates, Sabine has gone around the track 20,000 times, increasing by approximately 1200 per year. Her familiarity with the circuit earned her the nicknames "Queen of the Nürburgring" and "the fastest taxi driver in the world". Her company, Nürburgring-based Sabine Schmitz Motorsport, offers advanced driver training and a "Ring Taxi" service for passengers.

As a result of her popularity as "the fastest taxi driver in the world", Sabine co-hosted a motoring show on German television, "D Motor." In each show, Sabine takes on another challenge, for example Sabine in a Ferrari 360 vs. a 1200hp Race Truck or Sabine in a Formula Renault race car vs. a race sidecar. In 2004, Schmitz gained recognition in the United Kingdom after appearing in the BBC television show "Top Gear" with presenter Jeremy Clarkson.