N THE MANLIEST ERA OF RALLYING,
MICHELE MOUTON WAS ONE OF THE
STRONGEST CONTENDERS.
LET´S CELEBRATE THAT.
MICHELE MOUTON WAS ONE OF THE
STRONGEST CONTENDERS.
LET´S CELEBRATE THAT.
The 70’s and early 80’s were some of
the toughest and most demanding years
for rally drivers. Rallies were run over
several long days, and they were hard
on the mechanics as well as the drivers.
There were still no “creature comforts”
such as sequential gearboxes,
power steering or air conditioning.
Above all, the WRC was a social
environment unprepared for women,
let alone a female title contender.
Michele, however, needn’t fight for
equality, as she just imposed her talent
and her mental strength over prejudice
and physical disadvantages.
environment unprepared for women,
let alone a female title contender.
Michele, however, needn’t fight for
equality, as she just imposed her talent
and her mental strength over prejudice
and physical disadvantages.
“When you’re inside the car,
nobody can say if it’s a woman
or a man driving”, she claimed.
or a man driving”, she claimed.
Her rallying career started as a co-driver,
but her father felt she had the talent to
stand out as a driver, so he decided,
with big financial effort, to buy her an
Alpine A110 and support the activity for
a year, just to see how she performed.
but her father felt she had the talent to
stand out as a driver, so he decided,
with big financial effort, to buy her an
Alpine A110 and support the activity for
a year, just to see how she performed.
That was the 1974 season and she’d
triumph in Group 3 and would be
crowned as the French Ladies Champion.
Sponsors didn’t take much time to notice
the talent and backed up a career that
would obviously grab the headlines.
triumph in Group 3 and would be
crowned as the French Ladies Champion.
Sponsors didn’t take much time to notice
the talent and backed up a career that
would obviously grab the headlines.
The following season she would
repeat the feat and would also be the
European Ladies Champion, but that
didn’t seem too much of a stretch for
someone who, that season, scored a
7th place overall in the Tour de Corse,
the WRC French round. So, she set her
eyes on bigger challenges,
BEATING MEN IN
THEIR OWN GAME.
repeat the feat and would also be the
European Ladies Champion, but that
didn’t seem too much of a stretch for
someone who, that season, scored a
7th place overall in the Tour de Corse,
the WRC French round. So, she set her
eyes on bigger challenges,
BEATING MEN IN
THEIR OWN GAME.
In 1977 she finally had her chance:
with backup from Elf, she entered an
Almeras prepared Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7
in the European Champion, in which
she finished second overall, even
winning the Spain round.
with backup from Elf, she entered an
Almeras prepared Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7
in the European Champion, in which
she finished second overall, even
winning the Spain round.
After that, she became a works driver
for Fiat with the 131 Abarth for three years.
A major step before grabbing a contract with
Audi to do seven rounds of the WRC with
Quattro, as a team mate to Hannu Mikkola.
for Fiat with the 131 Abarth for three years.
A major step before grabbing a contract with
Audi to do seven rounds of the WRC with
Quattro, as a team mate to Hannu Mikkola.
This was the seat in which she made history,
by being the first - and yet the only - woman
to win a WRC round and scoring other wins
that almost lent her a driver’s title in 1982.
Only reliability issues and a decisive rally
troubled by the news of her father’s death,
would stop her from claiming
the outright victory.
by being the first - and yet the only - woman
to win a WRC round and scoring other wins
that almost lent her a driver’s title in 1982.
Only reliability issues and a decisive rally
troubled by the news of her father’s death,
would stop her from claiming
the outright victory.
In 1986 she would win the
German championship with the
Peugeot 205 Turbo 16, as an epilogue
to her fabulous career. However Mouton
remained connected to the WRC,
as she’s still in the role of FIA Safety
representative in the WRC.
German championship with the
Peugeot 205 Turbo 16, as an epilogue
to her fabulous career. However Mouton
remained connected to the WRC,
as she’s still in the role of FIA Safety
representative in the WRC.
