Sabine Schmitz has died at the age of 51 fol🐭lowing a long ba⛄ttle with cancer.

Schmitz was nicknamed 'Queen of the Nurburgring' after becoming the first woman to win the 24 H🔜ours of Nurburgring in 1996.

She won it again a year later in 1997 and then claimed the VLN-championship in 🎃1998.

Her success at the famous 🙈German circuit handed her the nickname of 'Queen of the Nurburgring' as well as ‘the fastest taxi driver in the world’ for driving passengers around the track in a BMღW M5.

Schmitz was also known for her role on BBC car programme To🥃p Gea🦄r, joining the presenting team in 2016

In 2020, Schmitz revealed that she hᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚad been suffering from🍨 "an extremely persistent cancer" for three years, where she explained she had relapsed after soughting treatment initially

In a statement released by Frikadelli Racing - the team she founded with her husband Klaus Abbelen - it was announced that Schmitz had died on Tuesday following her long bat𝓀tle against cancer.

“Sabine Schmitz passed away yesterday (Tuesday) af꧟ter her brave fight against cancer,” the team said.

“She was 51 years old. Klaus Abbelen and all relatives and friends are deeply saddened by the immeasurable๊ loss.”

The Nurburgring paid tribute to Schmitz with a short sta𒉰tement on social media.

“The Nürburgring has lost its most💙 famous female racing♊ driver.

“Sabine Schmitzও passed away far too early after a long illness. We wi🃏ll miss her and her cheerful nature. Rest in peace Sabine!”