Maria Teresa de Filippis, first female Formula One driver, dies aged 89

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Maria Teresa de Filippis, first female Formula One driver, dies aged 89

1:26 CAT | 10 Jan 2016

In file Club of Mozambique / Maria Teresa de Filippis.

Maria Teresa de Filippis, the first woman to race in a Formula One grand prix, has died aged 89.

Born and raised in Naples, Maria was keen on riding horses, and showed little to no interest in cars. That changed in 1948, when two of her brothers – Giuseppe and Antonio – mocked her, and bet she wouldn’t be fast in a car.

She stepped up to the challenge, and practised on the roads along the Amalfi coast, not far away from her home-town. In a hillclimb event, held in Salerno-Cava dei Tirreni, Maria drove a Fiat 500B, and promptly won her first race.

The Italian started three grands prix for the Maserati team in 1958 with a best finish of 10th at Spa-Francorchamps, in Belgium, in 1958.

She also failed to qualify for the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix along with F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone.

De Filippis said men were initially doubtful of her ability, although the only time she experienced true prejudice came in France.

“The race director said ‘the only helmet a woman should wear is the one at the hairdresser’s’ – that was the only time I was prevented from racing,” she told The Observer.

“Apart from that I don’t think I encountered any prejudice – only surprise at my success.”

After starting a family, de Philippis returned to the motorsport arena when she accepted an invitation in 1979 to join the Club Internationale des Anciens Pilotes de Grand Prix F1 for retired drivers, where she became vice president in 1997 and would eventually be made honorary president in the 21st century.

The late Lella Lombardi, another Italian, who started 12 grands prix between 1974-76, is the only other woman to start a Formula 1 race.

Female drivers in F1

Maria Teresa de Filippis – 5 races (1958-69), 3 starts – 0 points

Lella Lombardi – 17 races (1974-76), 12 starts – 0.5 points

Divina Galica – 3 races (1976 & 78), 0 starts (did not qualify)

Desire Wilson – 1 race (1980), 0 starts (did not qualify)

Giovanna Amati – 3 races (1992), 0 starts (did not qualify)

De Filippis attempted to qualify for the opening race of the 1959 season at Monaco, but was unable to make the cut for the 16-car grid with the Behra-Porsche team.

She walked away from the sport following the death of her team owner Jean Behra at that year’s German GP and retired from racing aged 23.

De Filippis later became vice president and then honorary president of the Club Internationale des Anciens Pilotes de Grand Prix F1 for retired drivers.

She was also a founding member of the Maserati Club and went on to become its president.

Source: BBC / Autosport