Michèle Mouton facts for kids
Mouton in 2011
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 June 1951 Grasse, France |
| World Rally Championship record | |
| Active years | 1974–1986 |
| Co-driver |  Annie Arrii Françoise Conconi "Biche" Fabrizia Pons Arne Hertz Terry Harryman |
| Teams | Fiat, Audi, Peugeot |
| Rallies | 50 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Rally wins | 4 |
| Podiums | 9 |
| Stage wins | 162 |
| Total points | 229 |
| First rally | 1974 Tour de Corse |
| First win | 1981 Rallye Sanremo |
| Last win | 1982 Rally Brazil |
| Last rally | 1986 Tour de Corse |
Michèle Hélène Raymonde Mouton (born 23 June 1951) is a French former rally driver. She raced in the World Rally Championship for the Audi team. Michèle won four rallies and finished second in the drivers' world championship in 1982. She is known as one of the most successful female drivers in motorsport history.
Michèle started in rallying as a co-driver. But she quickly moved to driving her own car, an Alpine-Renault A110. In 1975, she also raced on circuits. She won a class in the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Later, she joined the Fiat team. In 1978, she won the Tour de France Automobile.
In 1981, Audi Sport signed Michèle to drive their new Audi Quattro. This car was special because it had four-wheel-drive. In her first year with Audi, she won the Rallye Sanremo. This was a big surprise and her first World Rally Championship win.
In 1982, Michèle finished second overall in the World Rally Championship. She won rallies in Portugal, Brazil, and Greece. She also helped Audi win their first team title. In 1985, she won the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in the United States. She even set a new record time there. In 1986, she moved to Peugeot. She became the first female driver to win a major rally championship by taking the German Rally Championship title. Michèle retired from rallying soon after this. This was because the powerful Group B rally cars were banned. In 1988, she helped create the Race of Champions. This event remembers her friend and rival Henri Toivonen. Michèle also became the first president of the FIA's Women & Motor Sport Commission in 2010.
Contents
Michèle Mouton's Rally Career
Early Life and First Races
Michèle Mouton was born on June 23, 1951, in Grasse, France. This town is near the mountains used in French rallies. Her parents grew flowers. Michèle started studying law but soon left to focus on rallying.
She began driving her father's car at 14. But she only became interested in rallying in 1972. A friend asked her to practice for a rally with him. In 1973, she was his co-driver in the 1973 Monte Carlo Rally. This was the first-ever World Rally Championship (WRC) event.
Michèle's father then suggested she try driving. He bought her a car and gave her one year to prove herself. She drove an Alpine-Renault A110. She raced in the Tour de France Automobile. In 1973, she finished eighth in a rally called Île de Beauté.
First WRC Races and Early Wins
Michèle started driving in the World Rally Championship in 1974. She finished 12th in the Tour de Corse. At the end of that year, she became both French and European ladies' champion. In 1975, she took seventh place in the Tour de Corse. She also won her ladies' titles again.
In 1975, Michèle also raced in circuit events. She was part of an all-female team. They won their class in the 1975 24 Hours of Le Mans race. She remembered passing other cars in the rain. Her good results helped her get a big sponsor, Elf Aquitaine.
Racing for Fiat
In 1977, Fiat France signed Michèle. She drove the Fiat 131 Abarth. She found the car "terrible to drive" at first. But she still got good results. She finished eighth in the Tour de Corse in 1977. She then finished fifth three years in a row (1978-1980). In 1979 and 1980, she finished seventh in the Monte Carlo Rally.
Outside the WRC, Michèle won the 1977 RACE Rallye de España. She also finished second in the 1977 Tour de France Automobile. She was runner-up in the European Rally Championship (ERC). In 1978, she won the Tour de France. She also finished third at the Rallye d'Antibes. In 1979, she was second in the French Rally Championship.
Joining Audi Sport
The Audi Quattro Era (1980-1981)
In 1980, Audi Sport, Audi's new team, called Michèle. They signed her for the 1981 season. Michèle was very surprised by the call. Audi's choice to sign a female driver got a lot of attention.
Audi was bringing out the Audi Quattro. This was the first rally car with over 300 horsepower and four-wheel-drive. It was a very powerful car. Michèle learned to drive it using a special technique called "left-foot braking."
Michèle's first race in the Quattro in Monte Carlo didn't start well. She had to pull out before the race began due to engine problems. At the Rally Portugal, she started working with her co-driver, Fabrizia Pons. Michèle won seven stages and finished fourth. This result stopped people from criticizing Audi for signing her.
At the Rallye Sanremo in Italy, Michèle took the lead. She held off other top drivers like Henri Toivonen and Ari Vatanen to win. This was the first time a female driver had won a World Rally Championship event. Vatanen had said he would "never lose to a woman." Michèle remembered it as a big fight until the very end. She finished the 1981 season in eighth place.
Championship Challenge (1982)
Michèle's 1982 season began with a big crash in Monte Carlo. She hit ice and crashed into a wall. She was in third place at the time. Luckily, her injuries were not serious.
In Portugal, Michèle won 18 stages and took a clear victory. She said she imagined the crowds as trees to stay focused. At the Acropolis Rally, she won again. This brought her closer to the championship leader, Walter Röhrl.
In Brazil, Michèle won another rally. This improved her chances for the title. She was in a close fight with Röhrl. Before the next rally, the Rallye Côte d'Ivoire, Michèle received sad news. Her father had passed away. His last wish was for her to start the rally.
Michèle led the rally by a lot. But she faced many mechanical problems. On the final day, she went off the road and rolled her car. She had to give up. Röhrl won the rally and became world champion. He had said he would rather lose to Hannu Mikkola than to Michèle because she was a woman. But Michèle didn't focus on losing the title. She was dealing with her father's death. At the last rally, the RAC Rally, she finished second. This helped Audi win their first team world title. Michèle won the International Rally Driver of the Year award that year.
Later Audi Years (1983-1985)
The 1983 season started the Group B era. Michèle drove the new Audi Quattro A1. She crashed again in Monte Carlo but was unharmed. She then finished fourth in Sweden and second in Portugal. In the Safari Rally, she finished third. After four events, Michèle was second in the championship.
Audi then brought out the lighter Audi Quattro A2. Michèle's engine caught fire in the Tour de Corse. She also rolled her car in Greece. In New Zealand, she led the rally but her engine failed. These problems dropped her to fifth place in the championship. She finished third in Argentina. At the 1000 Lakes Rally, her car caught fire again. She drove it into a lake to put out the flames! She finished 16th. Michèle ended the season in fifth place overall.
In 1984, Audi added Walter Röhrl to their team. Michèle had a part-time role. She finished second in the Swedish Rally. She said driving on ice and snow was like dancing. This was her last podium finish in the WRC. She also debuted in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in the United States. She won the open rally category and set a record time. She finished second overall, beating many specialized cars.
In 1985, Michèle focused on testing new Audi cars. She found the Quattro S1 the hardest rally car she had driven. She only competed in one WRC event, the Rallye Côte d'Ivoire. She led the rally but her car had engine problems. Audi withdrew her from the race. There were questions about whether Audi had swapped her car with a service car. The issue was never fully solved.
Despite this, Michèle returned to Pikes Peak in 1985. She won the event overall in her Sport Quattro. She broke the old record even with a hailstorm. Some male rivals were annoyed she won. She famously told one, "If you have the balls you can try to race me back down as well."
Moving to Peugeot and Retirement (1986)
In late 1985, Michèle left Audi to join Peugeot. For 1986, she raced in the German Rally Championship and two WRC events. She drove a Peugeot 205 Turbo 16. Michèle, known as "The Black Volcano," won six of the eight events in Germany. She won the German national title, becoming the first female driver to win a major rally championship.
Her WRC races were in Monte Carlo and Tour de Corse. In Monte Carlo, she retired with oil pump problems. In the Tour de Corse, she was in third place. But she had gearbox trouble and had to retire. During that rally, Henri Toivonen and his co-driver died in a crash. This led to the powerful Group B cars being banned for the next year.
In October, Michèle announced her retirement from rallying. She said the end of the Group B era was the reason. She felt it was "a good time to stop." She won her last rally, the Drei-Städte-Rallye, after securing her German title.
Life After Rallying
In 1988, Michèle helped create the Race of Champions. This event was started to remember Henri Toivonen. It brings together top drivers from different types of racing. They compete in identical cars.
Michèle also took part in some rally raids. In 2000, she finished second in the London–Sydney Marathon. In 2008, she reunited with her co-driver Fabrizia Pons for a classic rally in New Zealand.
In 2010, Michèle became the first president of the FIA's Women & Motor Sport Commission. This group works to help women get involved in all areas of motorsport. In 2011, she became the FIA's manager for the World Rally Championship. She also helps choose people for the Rally Hall of Fame. In 2012, Michèle was inducted into the Hall of Fame herself.
Michèle Mouton's Personal Life and Impact
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When Michèle retired, she said she wanted to start a family. She had her daughter, Jessie, in 1987. Michèle said her father's support was key to her success. He loved fast cars and came to all her rallies.
Michèle said she didn't try to beat male drivers. She just wanted to be as good as them. Many people in motorsport see her as the most successful female driver ever. Stirling Moss called her "one of the best." Niki Lauda described her as a "superwoman."
In 2011, Michèle was made a knight of the Legion of Honour by the French President. This is a very high award in France. In 2022, a documentary about her, Queen of Speed, won an Emmy award. In 2024, Michèle received the first-ever FIA lifetime achievement award.
WRC Victories
| Nº | Year | Rally | Co-driver | Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 1981 | Rallye Sanremo |
Fabrizia Pons |
Audi Quattro |
| 2. | 1982 |  Rally de Portugal |
Fabrizia Pons |
Audi Quattro |
| 3. |  Acropolis Rally |
Fabrizia Pons |
Audi Quattro | |
| 4. |  Rally of Brazil |
Fabrizia Pons |
Audi Quattro | |
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See also
In Spanish: Michèle Mouton para niños
- List of female World Rally Championship drivers
