Michèle Mouton

Pioneering French rally driver who won four WRC events and finished runner-up in the 1982 drivers' championship.

via Wikipedia: Michèle Mouton · see source

Michèle Hélène Raymonde Mouton (born 23 June 1951) is a French former rally driver. Competing in the World Rally Championship for the Audi factory team, she took four victories and finished runner-up in the drivers' world championship in 1982.

Quick Facts

Born

23 June 1951

Birthplace

Grasse, France

Full name

Michèle Hélène Raymonde Mouton

Years

1974–1986

Teams

Fiat
Audi
Peugeot

Races

Championships

Wins

Lore & Background

Mouton debuted in rallying as a co-driver but quickly moved to the driver's seat, steering an Alpine-Renault A110 in national rallies. In 1975, she competed in circuit racing and won the two-litre prototype class in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. After being signed by Fiat France for 1977, Mouton finished runner-up to Bernard Darniche in the European Rally Championship. She went on to win the 1978 Tour de France Automobile and record consistent results in her home events in the WRC; the Tour de Corse and the Monte Carlo Rally. For 1981, Audi Sport signed Mouton to partner Hannu Mikkola. In her first year with the Audi Quattro, she took a surprise victory at the Rallye Sanremo. In the 1982 World Rally season, Mouton finished a close second overall to Walter Röhrl, after wins in Portugal, Brazil and Greece, and helped Audi to its first manufacturers' title. Her campaign the following year resulted in fifth place. With the team having four top drivers for 1984, Mouton's participation on world championship level became part-time. In 1985, she won the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in the United States, setting a record time in the process. In 1986, she moved to Peugeot and won the German Rally Championship as the first female driver to win a major championship in rallying. Soon after securing the title, Mouton retired from rallying due to the ban of Group B rally. In 1988, she co-founded the international motorsport event Race of Champions in memory of her former rival Henri Toivonen. Mouton became the first president of the FIA's Women in Motorsport Commission in 2010 and the FIA's manager in the World Rally Championship in 2011.

Reader's Guide

Mouton was born 23 June 1951 in Grasse, France. She began driving her father's Citroën 2CV at age 14 but did not turn to rallying until 1972. After co-driving for Jean Taibi in the 1973 Monte Carlo Rally, her father suggested she switch to driving. She debuted as a driver in the WRC in 1974, finishing 12th in the Tour de Corse in an Alpine A110. In 1975, she won the two-litre prototype class at Le Mans with an all-female team. For 1977, Fiat France signed her; she finished runner-up in the European Rally Championship. She won the 1978 Tour de France Automobile. In 1981, Audi signed her; she won the Rallye Sanremo, the first WRC win by a female driver. In 1982, she finished second in the drivers' championship with wins in Portugal, Brazil, and Greece. In 1985, she won the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with a record time. In 1986, she moved to Peugeot and won the German Rally Championship, then retired due to the ban of Group B. In 1988, she co-founded the Race of Champions. She became FIA Women in Motorsport Commission president in 2010 and FIA WRC manager in 2011.