Desiré Wilson

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Desiré Wilson (Template:Nee), born 26 November 1953,[1][2] is a former racing driver from South Africa and one of only five women to have competed in Formula One.[3]Template:Pg Born in Brakpan,[2] she entered one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix in Template:Ifnumber with a non-works RAM Racing-prepared Williams FW07, but failed to qualify.[4] She also raced in the 1981 non-world championship South African Grand Prix in a one off deal with Tyrrell Racing. This race was not part of the 1981 World Championship due, in part, to the FISA–FOCA war.[5] She qualified 16th and, after the car stalled during the start of the race, she moved up through the field in wet conditions; as conditions dried, she fell back and damaged the car when it touched a wall while she was letting the race leader through.[6]

Wilson became the only woman to win a Formula One race of any kind when she won at Brands Hatch in the short-lived British Aurora F1 Championship in 1980.[4] As a result of this achievement, she has a grandstand at Brands Hatch named after her.[6] Following her attempts in Formula One, Wilson participated in other disciplines including CART[7] and sports car racing.[6] Wilson entered the Indianapolis 500 three times in 1982, 1983, and 1984, but failed to qualify for any.[6]

Career

To date, Wilson is the only woman to have been licensed to drive in both CART Indycars and FIA Formula One World Championship. In 1980, she won both the Monza 1000km and the Silverstone 6 Hours World Championship for Makes races, thereby becoming the first woman to have claimed outright victories in any FIA World Championship race.[8]

In 1967, at the age of twelve, Wilson came second in the South African nationals, driving midget cars. By 1972, she had made her full racing debut and was fourth in her first season of the South African Formula Vee Championship. After two more seasons on the Formula Vee circuit, finishing fourth and second respectively, Wilson decided to pursue the international acclaim associated with Formula One. She won the South African Formula Ford Championship in 1975 and defended the title the following season, as well as securing the "Driver to Europe" award. As a result, Wilson moved to Europe for the 1977 season, competing mainly in Formula Ford 2000 races, in the Benelux and British Championships, where she finished third and fourth respectively, winning races at Zandvoort and Colmar-Berg.[6][8][9][10]

Wilson took another huge step forward in 1978, racing a Formula One March 751, updated to 761 specifications. After impressing many team bosses, she signed up to race in the Aurora AFX F1 Championship for Mario Deliotti Racing. Driving their Cosworth-powered Ensign N175, her best finish was a third place at the Thruxton Circuit. As her knowledge of the European tracks improved, so did her results. Whilst racing F1, she still drove a Lola T490 in the British Sports 2000 Championship, despite it being a minor national championship.[6][8][10]

In 1979, Wilson became the first woman to lead an F1 race. She headed the field at Zolder for Melchester Racing, in their Tyrrell 008, although she spun in the wet on the penultimate lap, but fought back to finish third, whilst claiming the fastest lap of the race. In addition, Wilson took three more 3rd places at Oulton Park, Brands Hatch and Thruxton. She ended the season in 7th place. She continued to race in Sports 2000, finishing third in the championship with her Lola.[6][8][10]

1980 was to be Wilson's big year, although it started sponsor-less, racing Formula Pacific in New Zealand. Teddy Yip and his Theodore Racing team came to her rescue, giving her a Wolf WR4 for the Aurora series. Yip's faith was repaid by round two, when Wilson won the Evening News Trophy at Brands Hatch, beating Norman Dickson and Eliseo Salazar. In doing so, she became the first woman, and so far the only woman to win an F1 race. She recorded two more podium finishes, a fine 2nd place at Thruxton and a 3rd at Mallory Park, before her team ran out of money.[6][8][10]

Wilson's successes did not stop there in 1980, when she formed a partnership with Alain de Cadenet and shared the driving duties of his De Cadenet LM1. After an impressive outing where the pair took third in the Brands Hatch 1000km, the pair went on the win both the Monza 1000km and the Silverstone 6 Hours races.[6][8][10]

Wilson's victories drew the attention of John Macdonald and his F1 RAM Racing team. During a private test at Brands Hatch, driving a year-old Williams FW07, things looked promising, where she was twelfth overall. However, by the weekend of the British Grand Prix, the car had been replaced with an inferior model, which she had been beaten in several times in the Aurora AFX series. The car lacked aerodynamics modifications, and her lack of experience at this level meant she did not qualify.[6][8][10]

This run of bad luck did not stop at Brands Hatch; after a practice accident for the 1980 24 Hours of Le Mans, Wilson and de Cadenet were not allowed to start in view of this earlier incident, despite setting eighth fastest lap in qualifying.[8][10]

Wilson got the chance to redeem herself, when she accepted a drive with Tyrrell Racing for her home Grand Prix. However, the ongoing FISA–FOCA war within F1, led to the 1981 South African Grand Prix being a non-championship race, which nevertheless still attracted a strong field. Wilson qualified 16th, moved through the field to 6th before spinning out her Tyrrell 010, with gearbox troubles. But, she had managed to impress Ken Tyrrell, and was offered further drives. Due to lack of sponsorship and political situation, she was unable to take up Tyrrell's offer and the drive went to Ricardo Zunino, and then Michele Alboreto. The remainder of the season consisted of outing in Formula Atlantic and Sportscars.[11][2][6][10]

Sportscars now became Wilson's main focus, after finished 8th in the 1981 Brands Hatch 1000km. In 1982, she raced in the IMSA series, failing to finish any races. A trip to France, for the Le Mans 24 hours did not fare any better, with her Grid S1, lasting only 24 minutes before the engine expired. Her only result of 1982 came in the Brands Hatch 1000km, when she finished 4th with Jonathan Palmer aboard a works Ford C100.[6][8][10]

Wilson's career in American single-seaters started in 1982. Back with Teddy Yip's Theodore Racing, she passed her Indianapolis 500 rookie test without a problem, and during qualifying set the fastest ever lap by a female racer (191.042 mph). However, she failed to qualify for the event due to repeated engine failures and the early ending of the qualifying session in which her team-mate, Gordon Smiley, was killed. She returned the following year, but failed to qualify again. Meanwhile, she did race eight other Indycar races, with a best finish of 10th in the Grand Prix of Cleveland. Her finishing record with Wysard Racing was poor, though not always due to driver error. She was an impressive novice, especially considering her rapid recovery from a broken leg suffered in a terrifying crash in an IMSA race at Brainerd International Raceway. During the race, her Momo Corse March 83G's front suspension broke. Three weeks later, she was back in an Indycar. A third attempt in qualifying for the Indy 500, in 1984 also resulted in a DNQ.[6][8][10][12]

During this time, sportscars had definitely not been forgotten. Wilson competed around the world in various series and cars, scoring some decent results in the process, but the highlight of 1983 was her 7th place at Le Mans, sharing an Obermaier Racing entered Porsche 956 with Axel Plankenhorn and Jürgen Lässig. With the help of these Germans, she finally broke her major-race duck with an excellent result. A return to Brands Hatch for the 1984 1000 km race, saw her take the Kremer Racing's Porsche 956 to 4th place, with the help of David Sutherland and fellow South African, George Fouché.[6][10]

Although her international racing schedule started to thin out, Wilson's competitive spirit remained and in 1987, as she took a class win in the SCCA/Escort Endurance Challenge at Sears Point, sharing a Saleen Mustang with Lisa Cacares. While with Saleen Motorsport, she took a class win Sebring 6 hours alongside Scott Pruett, assisting Saleen to the constructors' title. After a few more outings in Porsche 962C's in Britain and Japan, she had one last shot at Le Mans in 1991 in a Spice SE90C. This all-female crew, with co-drivers Lyn St. James and Cathy Muller, lasted only 47 laps before crashing out.[6][8][10]

Although Wilson returned to race a Mazda Xedos in the North American Super Touring Car Championship in 1997, she now only occasionally races at the Goodwood Revival.[6][10]

Personal life

Wilson is married to fellow South African and road course architect Alan Wilson.[3]

Racing record

Career summary

Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
1973 South African Formula Vee Championship ? ? ? ? ? ? 4th
1974 South African Formula Vee Championship ? ? ? ? ? ? 2nd
1975 South African Formula Ford Championship ? ? ? ? ? ? 1st
1976 South African Formula Ford Championship ? ? ? ? ? ? 1st
1977 Benelux Formula Ford 2000 Championship ? ? ? ? ? ? 3rd
Dutch Formula Ford 2000 Championship ? ? ? ? ? ? 3rd
British Formula Ford 2000 Championship ? ? ? ? ? ? 3rd
1978 USAC Mini-Indy Series 1 0 0 0 0 2 69th
Aurora AFX F1 Championship Mario Deliotti Racing 5 0 0 0 1 34 10th
1979 Aurora AFX F1 Championship Melchester Racing 15 0 0 1 4 28 7th
1980 Aurora AFX F1 Championship Theodore Racing Hong Kong 6 1 0 2 3 21 6th
Colin Bennett Racing 1 0 0 0 0
World Challenge for Endurance Drivers Alain de Cadenet 3 2 3 0 0 39 41st
Formula One Brands Hatch Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Macau Grand Prix Susie Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 6th
Aurora AFX New Zealand International Formula Pacific Series 8 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1981 MCD British Formula Atlantic Championship Goodwin Racing 1 0 0 0 0 3 15th
World Championship for Drivers and Makes T-Bird Swap Shop 1 0 0 0 0 14 187th
1982 FIA World Endurance Championship Grid Racing 1 0 0 0 0 10 46th
Ford Motor Company 1 0 0 0 0
1983 IMSA Camel GT Championship Momo Corse 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
FIA World Endurance Championship Obermaier Racing 1 0 0 0 0 4 63rd
PPG Indy Car World Series Wysard Motor Co 8 0 0 0 0 3 28th
1984 FIA World Endurance Championship Kremer Racing 1 0 0 0 0 10 44th
1986 American Racing Series ARS 1 0 0 0 0 8 24th
PPG Indy Car World Series Machinists Union Racing 3 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1989 All Japan Sports Prototype Car Endurance Championship Team Davey 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
World Sports Prototype Championship 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
British Formula 3000 GA Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 3 12th
1991 World Sports Car Championship Euro Racing (A.O. Racing) 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Firestone Indy Lights Championship Leading Edge Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 1 24th
1993 IMSA Exxon Supreme GT Series - GTS-1 Tom Gloy Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1997 North American Super Touring Championship Schader Motorsports 3 0 0 0 0 18 15th
1999 Speedvision World Challenge - GT Speedvision/Vortech 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Source:[13][6]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Complete British Formula One Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />Pos.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Pts
1978 Mario Deliotti Racing Ensign N175 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 OUL BRH SNE MAL ZAN DON THR OUL
RetScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		MAL
6Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		BRH
4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		THR
3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		SNE
6Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		10th 34
1979 Melchester Racing Tyrrell 008 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ZOL
3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		OUL
3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		BRH
3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		MAL
11Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		SNE
RetScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		THR
3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		ZAN
4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		DON
RetScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		OUL
5Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		NOG
4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		MAL
RetScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		BRH
7Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		THR
7Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		SNE
6Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		SIL
5Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		7th 28
1980 Theodore Racing Hong Kong Wolf WR4 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 OUL
RetScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		BRH
1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		SIL
8Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		MAL
RetScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		THR
2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		MNZ 6th 21
Wolf WR3 MAL
3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		SNE
Colin Bennett Racing Lotus 78 BRH
RetScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		THR OUL SIL
Sources:[13][14]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />WDCScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Pts
1980 Brands Hatch Racing Williams FW07 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG BRA RSA USW BEL MON FRA GBR
DNQScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		GER AUT NED ITA CAN USA NC 0
Source:[15]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Complete Formula One Non-Championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3
1979 Melchester Racing Tyrrell 008 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ROC
9Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		GNM DIN
1981 Tyrrell Racing Team Tyrrell 010 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 RSA
RetScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Source:[16]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />Pos.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />Class
Pos.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1982 Template:Flagicon Grid Racing Template:Flagicon Emilio de Villota
Template:Flagicon Alain de Cadenet 		Grid Plaza S1-Ford Cosworth C 7 DNF DNF
1983 Template:Flagicon Obermaier Racing Template:Flagicon Axel Plankenhorn
Template:Flagicon Jürgen Lässig 		Porsche 956 C 347 7th 7th
1991 Template:Flagicon Euro Racing
Template:Flagicon A.O. Racing 		Template:Flagicon Lyn St. James
Template:Flagicon Cathy Muller 		Spice SE90C-Ford Cosworth C1 47 DNF DNF
Source:[17]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Complete 24 Hours of Daytona results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />Pos.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />Class
Pos.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1982 Template:Flagicon Thunderbird Swap Shop Template:Flagicon Preston Henn
Template:Flagicon Marty Hinza 		Porsche 935 GTP 229 DNF DNF
1993 Template:Flagicon Tom Gloy Racing Template:Flagicon Ron Fellows
Template:Flagicon Tomiko Yoshikawa
Template:Flagicon Pieter Baljet 		Ford Mustang GTS 189 DNF DNF
Source:[17]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Complete 12 Hours of Sebring results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />Pos.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />Class
Pos.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1982 Template:Flagicon North American Racing Team Template:Flagicon Janet Guthrie
Template:Flagicon Bonnie Henn 		Ferrari 512 BB GTP 163 DNF DNF
Source:[17]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

American open-wheel racing results

PPG Indy Car World Series

Year Team No. Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />Pos.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Pts Ref
1983 Wysard Motor Co 34 March 82C Cosworth DFX V8t ATL INDY
DNQScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		MIL 28th 3 [18]
March 83C CLE
10Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		MCH ROA
20Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		POC
31Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		RIV
14Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		MOH
16Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		MCH CPL
23Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		LAG
19Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		PHX
13Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1984 Wysard Motor Co March 83C Cosworth DFX V8t LBH
DNQScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		PHX INDY
DNQScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		MIL POR MEA CLE MCH ROA POC MOH SAN MCH PHX LAG CPL NC 0 [19]
1986 Machinists Union Racing 55 March 86C Cosworth DFX V8t PHX LBH INDY MIL POR MEA CLE TOR MCH POC MOH
13Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		SAN MCH ROA
19Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		LAG
16Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		PHX MIA 38th 0 [20]
Sources:[14][21]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Indianapolis 500

Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team
1982 Eagle 81 Cosworth DNQ Theodore Racing
1983 March 82C Cosworth DNQ Wysard Motor Co
1984 March 83C Cosworth DNQ Wysard Motor Co
Sources:[21]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Indy Lights

Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />Pos.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Pts
1986 ARS March 86A Buick 4.2 V6 PHX
6Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		MIL MEA TOR POC MOH ROA LAG PHX MIA 24th 8
1991 Leading Edge Motorsport March 86A Buick 4.2 V6 LBH PHX MIL DET POR CLE MEA TOR DEN
12Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		MOH NAZ LAG 24th 1
Source:[22]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

North American Touring Car Championship

(key)

North American Touring Car Championship results
Year Team No. Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />NATCCScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Pts
1997 Schader Motorsports 6 Mazda Xedos 6 LBH
6Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		LBH
10Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		SAV
DNSScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		SAV
DNSScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		DET DET PIR PIR CLE CLE TOR
11Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		TOR
DNSScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		MOH MOH VAN VAN LS LS 15th 18
Source:[13]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

See also

Further reading

  • Alan Wilson. Driven by Desire: The Desiré Wilson story. Veloce Publishing. Template:ISBN.

References

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  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ [1]Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
  13. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Template:Machinists Union Racing Template:Female Formula One drivers Template:Authority control

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