Desiré Wilson
Desiré Randall Wilson (* November 26, 1953 in Brakpan, South Africa ) is a former South African racing driver. She is the only woman ever to win an official race with Formula 1 racing car ( in the British Aurora AFX Formula 1 series).
The beginnings of the career
End of the 1960s, Desiré Wilson began her racing career in the South African Midget Racer series ( small separation cars). In 1973 she moved to the South African Formula V championship. After a fourth place overall in the first year and the runner-up in the following year, Wilson moved to the South African Formula Ford, which she won in both 1975 as well as 1976.
In 1977 he was engaged in the European Formula Ford you covered with two wins third overall. 1978 Wilson played sporadically race in Formula Atlantic, Formula Ford Championship and the British prototypes.
In Formula 1
1978 Desiré Wilson went in the British Aurora AFX Formula 1 series, a racing series, were used in the older F1 cars, the first time a Formula 1 car at the start. At the wheel of Ensign MN175 -Cosworth Wilson finished tenth overall. The following year, she reached the wheel of a Tyrrell 008- Cosworth to seventh place overall, finishing in addition to the World Cup while not belonging, traditional Race of Champions ninth place.
In 1980 she reached the wheel of a Theodore Wolf sixth place overall and won the race at Brands Hatch. On the same track Wilson was reported for an official Formula 1 Grand Prix, three months after her win for the first time. However, for the private Brands Hatch Racing team could not qualify for the race at the wheel of a Williams FW07 -Cosworth.
The following year, Wilson was committed for the Grand Prix of South Africa from Tyrrell. In training they finished 16th place in the race they clashed calculated with their teammates Eddie Cheever. The race was boycotted due to a dispute between FISA and FOCA by the members of the FISA teams and subsequently not counted for the World Cup.
In the Cart- series
1982 Wilson was first active in Indianapolis. However, at the wheel of an Eagle Team Theodore Racing they failed to qualify. The following year she was engaged by Wysard engine. With a March 83C -Cosworth she reached three championship points only in Cleveland and was released before the end of the season.
In 1986, she attempted a comeback in the CART series, which failed after only three races due to poor results.
Career in the Cart series
T = Training Indy Indianapolis, Indy R = Race Indianapolis, DNQ = Not Qualified
Other races
After completion of their international single-seater career Desiré Wilson remained the automobile sport until 1997 actively connected. She denied until then, a variety of sporadic appearances in various racing series. So she went to, among others, in the World Endurance Championship for sports cars, the IMSA series, the British Formula 3000 and the British Thunder Sports Championship.
Between 1999 and 2002 Wilson took part in the Goodwood Festival of Speed , a race for vintage racing cars, in part.
Le Mans results
Weblink
- Biography with pictures on Forix.com (English )
- Champ Car racer
- Drivers in the 24 Hours of Le Mans
- World Sports Car Championship racer
- Racers (South Africa)
- South Africans
- Born in 1953
- Woman