Sabine Schmitz has passed away from cancer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabine_Schmitz

Even though this isn't someone I knew personally, she was such a relatable, wonderfully grounded person, and so full of light, it hurts even to write that shes gone. Plus I've always had a celebrity crush on her, and I'm sure many other Racing fans and car enthusiasts did as well.

If you don't know who she is, or if you just want to see what it looks like when someone truly has found happiness in what they accomplished in life, you should take a little bit of time to check these out:
about:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tG3Tx1e704
amazing behind the wheel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnJOC_dDXzM
and of course, the famous challenge on Top Gear from way back in 2005:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KiC03_wVjc
If you don't know the background on the last one, a Car show presenter was bragging about his lap time he set in a Jaguar. Unimpressed, Sabine told him she could beat his 10 minute time driving a van, which seemed impossible, but then she nearly did. Which was an incredible feat. It made for great TV, and that moment helped bring her into the spot light.

R.I.P. Queen of the Nurburgring

She was a legend and one hell of a driver