Michele Mouton, known as the ‘Queen of Speed’, made her debut as a driver in the 1974 World Rally Championship, marking 50 years since that milestone. Before she became associated with the iconic Audi Quattro, Mouton started her rally career as a co-driver in the Alpine A110. Her journey into the world of rally racing began in 1972 when she assisted her friend Jean Taibi in practicing the Tour de Corse route. Mouton’s official debut took place in the inaugural Monte Carlo Rally in 1973, where she co-drove the Peugeot 304S for Jean Taibi. Impressed by her skills, Mouton’s father encouraged her to take the driver’s seat and even offered her a rally car to showcase her talents in France. In 1973, she participated in the all-female car rally, the Saint-Raphaël Féminin Rallye Paris, before competing in the Tour de France Automobile in the same year, a race she would eventually win in 1978. Mouton honed her driving skills through various rally events before making her official debut as a driver in the WRC in 1974. Despite facing accusations of having an illegal engine during her debut in the Tour de Corse, where she finished 12th driving an Alpine A110, Mouton was cleared of any wrongdoing. She went on to dominate the French and European ladies’ categories, earning championship titles in both. The following year, Mouton defended her title in the Tour de Corse, finishing in seventh place and retaining her status as the French and European ladies’ champion. In a surprising turn of events, Mouton teamed up with Christine Dacremont and Marianne Hoepfner to compete in Le Mans, where she secured her first endurance race victory in the two-litre prototype category of the 1975 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 1977, Mouton joined forces with French rally driver Jean-Claude Andruet to represent Fiat France in the Fiat 131 Abarth. She consistently achieved fifth place in the Tour de Corse for three consecutive years from 1978 to 1980, demonstrating her consistent performance in the WRC. Mouton’s rally career progressed rapidly in 1977, as she achieved podium finishes in the RACE Rallye de España and the Tour de France Automobile, driving the Porsche Carrera RS. In 1978, she won the Tour de France Automobile with the 131 Abarth and finished second in the 1979 French Rally Championship, setting the stage for her next big move.
Mouton, who had recently signed with the new Audi factory team, was poised to make her debut with Audi Sport in 1981, driving the Audi Quattro.
The Audi Quattro, a legendary racing car, was the first four-wheel-drive vehicle in the WRC to boast over 300 bhp, making it an iconic machine.
Due to a lack of homologation from the FIA, the Quattro could only participate in events as zero cars, resulting in the loss of stage and event wins.
Despite facing electrical issues throughout the race, Mouton managed to secure a fourth-place position at the 1981 Rally de Portugal, impressively winning seven stages.
At the 1981 Acropolis Rally, Mouton silenced critics who doubted Audi’s decision to sign a female driver by setting the fastest times on different stages. However, the FIA excluded the Quattros from the event due to homologation procedures.
A historic moment occurred at the Rallye Sanremo in northwestern Italy when Mouton became the first female driver to win a WRC event. This remarkable achievement took place in only her sixth start in the Quattro, surpassing champions Henri Toivonen, Hannu Mikkola, and Ari Vatanen.
Vatanen, who would later become the champion, famously declared before the race: “The day I will be defeated by a woman, I will retire from racing.”
Mouton went on to become the most successful female driver in motorsport history, narrowly missing out on winning the 1982 WRC season. Despite ongoing mechanical issues, she emerged victorious in Portugal, Greece, and Brazil.
With the championship within reach, Mouton faced a tough battle against Walter Röhrl, the championship leader and driver for Rothmans Opel, at the penultimate rally in Côte d’Ivoire. Tragically, she received the devastating news that her father had passed away from cancer on the morning of the race.
In an interview with Hagerty, Mouton revealed, “My father died at 7 am and the race started at 8:30 am. I wanted to go home, but my mother encouraged me to drive. I was leading Röhrl by 1 hour 20 minutes, but then lost 1 hour 15 minutes due to a gearbox change and encountered further problems. I lost the world championship, but what I missed more was my father.”
Securing the second position in the championship and granting Audi the manufacturer’s championship, Mouton came incredibly close to clinching the title. The rally legend achieved remarkable success beyond the World Rally Championship, triumphing over American drivers to claim victory in the 1985 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with a comfortable lead of more than 30 seconds. Displaying her exceptional skills, Mouton set a new record time of 11:25.39, even though she received a penalty for driving “excessively fast”. This outstanding feat shattered the previous record set by American racing icon Bobby Unser by an impressive 13 seconds. Following an illustrious career in rallying, which included 162 stage wins, 9 podium finishes, and 4 rally victories, Mouton decided to retire in 1989. However, her passion for motorsport persisted, leading her to co-found the Race of Champions in 1988 as a tribute to the late Henri Toivonen. This commitment to the sport kept her deeply involved in the world of motorsport for several decades. In 2010, Mouton assumed the role of president of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, a position she held until her retirement in 2022. Undoubtedly one of the most iconic figures in rallying, Mouton left an indelible mark on the sport, setting numerous records and solidifying her status as one of the greatest drivers in history.