Part 1 - Racing Cars Driven by Female Champions

Contrary to popular belief, there have always been women drivers. The first woman who comes to mind is Bertha Benz, wife of Karl Benz, who is considered the inventor of the automobile. In 1888, Bertha drove the strange machine created by her husband for 100 kilometres.

From the various tracks and races before World War II, at least four female drivers and their cars deserve a special mention: Mariette Hélene Delangle (a French model, dancer, and a motor racing driver who went by her stage name, Hellé Nice), the Canadian Kay Petre, the Czechoslovak Eliška Junková-Khásová, and the Italian Maria Antonietta Avanzo.