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All the way from Germany,
please welcome Sabine Schmitz.
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She was fun, and she saw driving
a car as a fun thing to do,
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00:00:31,082 --> 00:00:33,496
and driving it quickly
as an even more fun thing to do.
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On a track. That's great
and I think that came out.
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00:00:37,671 --> 00:00:42,026
If you just walked into the average
pub in the UK in the last 15 years,
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and said, " Racing driver. Woman."
Quite a few people would go,
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"Oh, the German woman off Top Gear."
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Your driving style is really funny.
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Sabine is beautifully bonkers.
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I'm coming for you!
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And I mean that with so much
love and respect.
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00:00:59,691 --> 00:01:03,817
She loved doing something that we
all love doing, but she really loved
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doing it, and also was
extremely good at it.
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Woo!
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She drove fast, but lived life fast,
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and you get the sense with Sabine
that every day of her life
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was an event.
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00:01:18,481 --> 00:01:23,986
On the 16th of March 2021,
the world of motor racing lost one
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00:01:24,011 --> 00:01:26,011
of its brightest stars.
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My dad actually told me once
that if I work really, really hard,
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I may be as successful
as her one day.
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Fierce, hugely talented
and a great person.
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And there was one place above
all others where that star
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burned brightest of all.
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The Nurburgring is the biggest
challenge of a racetrack
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00:01:53,611 --> 00:01:56,351
on the planet.
There's no debate about that.
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You can't be the Queen of the
Nurburgring without being very good
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00:02:01,051 --> 00:02:03,296
at it, and, to be honest, if youtre
not very good at it, and you do it
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00:02:03,321 --> 00:02:05,090
that much, you're going to
come a cropper because
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00:02:05,091 --> 00:02:07,011
it's not a safe place.
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There's so much undulation
and banked corners and dips,
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and it can be raining over one
side of the circuit,
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but really sunny on another.
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It doesn't matter how good
a driver you are,
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00:02:18,881 --> 00:02:22,530
that place has always got
a surprise for you. Always.
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00:02:22,531 --> 00:02:24,410
But to Sabine Schmitz,
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the world's longest and most
infamous motor racing circuit
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was simply...
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...home.
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If you're looking to describe
Sabine, you've got to put her
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00:02:38,371 --> 00:02:41,251
in context and the only context is
the Nurburgring.
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This is a place she knows better
than you know anything you know.
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Everybody who can compete
there can do it everywhere
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on any racetrack in the world.
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There is talk about the Nurburgring
having a corner named after her.
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Just name the whole course
after her, you know,
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she was the queen of it.
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Born in 1969, in the very village
that the track encircles,
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00:03:04,831 --> 00:03:08,850
Sabine grew up literally
surrounded by racing.
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This is what people, I think,
sometimes forget just how big
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the Nurburgring is, that it does
have civilisations in it,
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00:03:15,710 --> 00:03:20,449
and so she was going round it on,
you know, skis when it was snowing
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00:03:20,474 --> 00:03:22,391
or bicycle or whatever...
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00:03:22,951 --> 00:03:26,411
...from as soon as she was
a sentient being.
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00:03:26,669 --> 00:03:30,810
Sabine started driving
the circuit at the age of 17.
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00:03:30,811 --> 00:03:35,370
By 19, she held a Nurburgring
lap record, quickly becoming
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a specialist in motorsport's most
gruelling discipline:
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00:03:39,460 --> 00:03:41,565
Endurance Racing.
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00:03:42,755 --> 00:03:47,000
Endurance racing now, it's arguably
a lot less difficult than it was.
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You can drive a racing car flat out
now for 24 hours and it won't break.
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00:03:51,180 --> 00:03:53,651
Back then, you had to look
after the vehicle.
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00:03:53,831 --> 00:03:55,090
And that was a real skill.
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00:03:55,091 --> 00:03:56,851
It was a physical challenge,
as well.
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00:03:56,905 --> 00:03:58,771
It's a challenge of concentration.
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00:03:58,850 --> 00:04:02,730
And she was the only woman doing it
there. I mean, looking back,
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00:04:02,731 --> 00:04:06,751
actually, there's a reason why
she was such a hero out there.
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00:04:08,230 --> 00:04:11,645
In 1996, Sabine became
the first woman
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to win the Nurburgring 24 Hours,
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00:04:15,131 --> 00:04:18,235
and the following year,
she won it again.
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00:04:19,536 --> 00:04:23,926
Double 24 Hour Nurburgring
champion. I mean, that's hard.
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00:04:23,951 --> 00:04:25,210
That's so, so hard.
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To win that race,
not once, but twice.
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I think anyone who can master
that circuit is a truly
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great racing driver.
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This was a young, talented,
successful female driver,
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and with her reputation
in the motor racing world
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already well established,
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in 2004, Sabine was discovered
by a whole new audience.
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00:05:00,799 --> 00:05:04,415
Yeah, I remember the first time I
saw her on telly at the Nurburgring
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00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:08,806
with Clarkson. Erm, it was... it was
so good to watch.
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00:05:08,831 --> 00:05:12,090
The Top Gear test track
has eight corners.
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00:05:12,091 --> 00:05:16,235
Silverstone, which is a big
Grand Prix circuit, has 12 corners.
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The Nurburgring has 147 corners.
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00:05:21,471 --> 00:05:26,485
To help me get round this place,
I have a teacher - Sabine Schmitz.
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00:05:26,510 --> 00:05:30,445
The first time she ever
took me round the Nurburgring,
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she just humiliated me and was rude.
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- I have no idea where this track goes.
- At the moment it's quite easy.
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00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:41,695
OK, and now accelerate,
accelerate, accelerate...
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- It's a corner!
- Accelerate!
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00:05:43,435 --> 00:05:44,610
It's not really a corner.
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It's a huge corner!
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You could see him behind that wheel
just getting smaller,
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00:05:49,821 --> 00:05:51,450
and smaller, and smaller.
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00:05:51,451 --> 00:05:54,890
- This is my first lap.
- Don't brake so much.
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Just... she was extremely
critical of me.
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I mean, hurtfully so.
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00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:01,955
- No, don't! Don't brake!
- OK.
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00:06:01,980 --> 00:06:04,676
Oh, a girl overtook you.
Did you see that?
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00:06:04,701 --> 00:06:06,775
Do you know, I'm not feeling proud.
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00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,386
She had many observations to make
about my driving,
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00:06:09,411 --> 00:06:10,930
and none of them were kind.
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00:06:10,931 --> 00:06:12,891
Is this the Carousel?
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00:06:13,110 --> 00:06:15,290
Ja, now the Carousel is coming.
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Turn in more later. Ugh!
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Your driving style is really funny.
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00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:24,330
"Your driving style is very funny."
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00:06:24,331 --> 00:06:27,570
I did laugh out loud
when I saw that.
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00:06:27,571 --> 00:06:31,866
I mean, I'm glad that I amused her,
but I still don't know why
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it was particularly funny.
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Maybe listen?
Maybe she knows more than you.
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Do you think I'm going to be able
to get around in ten minutes?
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00:06:40,371 --> 00:06:44,291
No.
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00:06:44,620 --> 00:06:47,210
Don't sugar-coat it like that.
Tell me straight.
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00:06:47,211 --> 00:06:51,426
You're not 100% talent free,
but 80%?
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00:06:51,451 --> 00:06:54,971
80% talent free. Right.
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00:06:55,111 --> 00:06:58,251
But nevertheless, she did coach me
well enough,
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00:06:59,031 --> 00:07:02,786
so that I did a sort of
sub ten minute time.
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00:07:04,222 --> 00:07:06,306
Oh! Come on, come on.
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00:07:06,331 --> 00:07:07,774
There's the end! There's the end!
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00:07:07,775 --> 00:07:12,067
9, 8, 7, 6, 5,
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4, 3, 2, 1.
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00:07:16,551 --> 00:07:18,791
I did it! I did it!
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00:07:19,071 --> 00:07:20,951
9:59!
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00:07:22,772 --> 00:07:26,690
Yes! 9 minutes, 59 seconds.
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00:07:26,691 --> 00:07:29,943
- That means you did the lap in...
- 9:59.
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00:07:29,944 --> 00:07:32,290
9:59 is under 10 minutes.
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00:07:32,291 --> 00:07:33,691
- I tell you something.
- What?
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00:07:33,715 --> 00:07:35,330
I do that lap time in a van.
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00:07:35,331 --> 00:07:37,931
- Oh, rubbish.
- I show you what a really fast lap is,
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00:07:37,955 --> 00:07:38,931
okay?
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Stop.
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Sadly, that's
all we have time for...
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00:08:00,571 --> 00:08:03,410
Shut up, Jeremy, it isn't. Now, that
looked pretty fast, did it not?
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00:08:03,411 --> 00:08:05,890
You did it in 9:59.
How fast did she do it?
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00:08:05,891 --> 00:08:06,611
Um...
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00:08:06,635 --> 00:08:09,090
Bear in mind, this is her
first lap in the car.
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00:08:09,091 --> 00:08:11,356
- Strange car to her.
- 9 minutes something.
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00:08:11,381 --> 00:08:13,005
- No, come on.
- 9...
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00:08:13,029 --> 00:08:14,306
Who wants to know
how fast she did it?
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00:08:14,331 --> 00:08:16,810
- Yeah!
- I'll tell you. 9:59 for you.
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00:08:16,811 --> 00:08:19,586
She did it 9 minutes, 12 seconds.
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I'm sorry. You're rubbish.
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You are rubbish!
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OK.
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00:08:31,151 --> 00:08:33,970
- You're right. I was rubbish.
- Yep.
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I think she beat him, what,
by about 40 odd seconds?
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Um, yeah, and that isn't
a reflection of Jeremy.
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I think she would do that
to any man.
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A year later,
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00:08:45,871 --> 00:08:48,351
Top Gear returned
to the Nurburgring,
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00:08:48,751 --> 00:08:51,991
this time with the stakes
even higher.
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How many laps do you think you've
done of the ring in your life?
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- 14-15,000.
- OK.
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00:08:58,171 --> 00:09:00,690
How many times have you crashed?
I'm just wondering.
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00:09:00,691 --> 00:09:03,756
Oh, many times. Many times.
I can't count, actually.
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00:09:03,781 --> 00:09:05,330
Right.
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00:09:05,331 --> 00:09:07,330
She'd laid down the gauntlet
to Jeremy,
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00:09:07,331 --> 00:09:11,090
he'd driven round the Nurburgring,
er, in a Jaguar, and she'd said,
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00:09:11,091 --> 00:09:13,410
"I could do it quicker
than that in a van."
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All right, then... however you say
sunshine in German,
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we'll get you a van, and you can...
you can... you can try.
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- We're away.
- Go, go, go, go!
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Woo!
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00:09:28,653 --> 00:09:31,170
- I have to brake with my left foot.
- OK.
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Then I can keep the right foot
on the gas. See?
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110!
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00:09:38,501 --> 00:09:40,151
115!
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Hurry up, please!
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Ooh!
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00:09:46,451 --> 00:09:50,376
Yeah, it was scary,
but not terrifying.
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00:09:50,401 --> 00:09:53,811
It was fun because she was in
control. She was doing what she did.
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00:09:54,450 --> 00:09:58,306
Woo! Oversteer, and understeer,
and everything!
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00:09:58,331 --> 00:09:59,631
Ooh!
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00:09:59,972 --> 00:10:03,330
Yeah, I've sat with a lot of fast
drivers and they make it look easy.
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00:10:03,331 --> 00:10:05,191
She made it look joyous.
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00:10:10,811 --> 00:10:12,426
Just overtaken a motorcyclist.
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00:10:12,451 --> 00:10:14,947
Glad it wasn't me
being overtaken by a van.
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00:10:16,491 --> 00:10:17,586
Woohoo!
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00:10:17,611 --> 00:10:19,586
Oh, no...
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00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:26,760
It was a real privilege to be
alongside her when she
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00:10:27,088 --> 00:10:30,386
went for that and then to be thrown
out of it because I was just weight
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and I 'd get in the way.
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00:10:35,341 --> 00:10:36,796
Go!
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00:10:41,469 --> 00:10:46,226
I don't think Sabine would have
allowed a quarter of a second
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00:10:46,251 --> 00:10:48,971
to be missing from her lap time
in that van.
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00:10:51,665 --> 00:10:52,851
Now it's working.
187
00:10:53,131 --> 00:10:55,371
And sixth gear.
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00:10:56,771 --> 00:10:59,610
I mean, she properly threw
everything into it,
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00:10:59,611 --> 00:11:01,596
she did want to beat my time.
190
00:11:03,891 --> 00:11:05,996
The brakes are burning!
191
00:11:06,677 --> 00:11:09,971
She screwed literally everything
out of that thing.
192
00:11:10,102 --> 00:11:13,291
Jeremy, everything is for you,
just to beat you.
193
00:11:13,771 --> 00:11:15,591
Of course, she didn't.
194
00:11:17,261 --> 00:11:19,651
Oh, don't, please!
195
00:11:19,821 --> 00:11:22,631
Eight seconds left. No!
196
00:11:23,191 --> 00:11:27,651
No! Ah! 10:08.
197
00:11:30,269 --> 00:11:32,597
I mean, she was in a van
and I was in a Jag',
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00:11:32,622 --> 00:11:34,597
but nevertheless, you know...
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00:11:35,948 --> 00:11:40,916
Sabine's exploits on
camera had made her a cult icon.
200
00:11:41,564 --> 00:11:46,466
And in 2016, the beginning
of a new chapter for Top Gear
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00:11:46,491 --> 00:11:50,531
gave the world another chance
to see her in action.
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00:11:50,617 --> 00:11:52,891
Sabine Schmitz, everyone!
203
00:11:53,047 --> 00:11:56,356
You know, people looked up to her,
I would see it when we would do
204
00:11:56,381 --> 00:12:00,226
the live audience shows,
I would see people that, you know,
205
00:12:00,251 --> 00:12:01,730
they would tap each other
on the shoulder.
206
00:12:01,731 --> 00:12:03,410
"There's Sabine, there's Sabine."
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00:12:03,411 --> 00:12:06,570
And it was it was really cool
to watch and to see the effect
208
00:12:06,571 --> 00:12:09,946
she had on people
and on women especially.
209
00:12:09,971 --> 00:12:12,491
It was that she was a true
inspiration to people.
210
00:12:16,031 --> 00:12:20,330
She had a bit of a reputation for
making people very ill in cars.
211
00:12:20,331 --> 00:12:22,250
Should I name names?
212
00:12:22,251 --> 00:12:23,330
I tm going to name names.
213
00:12:23,331 --> 00:12:25,731
Yeah. Chris Evans.
214
00:12:26,991 --> 00:12:29,931
Hold on tight to your balls, sonny!
215
00:12:31,091 --> 00:12:32,386
Woo!
216
00:12:32,411 --> 00:12:35,251
Stop, stop, stop, please, stop.
217
00:12:36,955 --> 00:12:38,731
Go out, go out, go out!
218
00:12:41,751 --> 00:12:44,490
Then a fighter pilot
was in a Corvette
219
00:12:44,491 --> 00:12:46,451
with her and he was sick.
220
00:12:48,951 --> 00:12:50,930
- I might need a break, Sabine.
- Huh?
221
00:12:50,931 --> 00:12:52,330
- I might need a break.
- You need a break?
222
00:12:52,331 --> 00:12:54,010
- I might need a break.
- What?!
223
00:12:54,011 --> 00:12:55,690
This is an actual fighter pilot,
224
00:12:55,691 --> 00:12:58,156
whose job it is to drive
at Mach 2,
225
00:12:58,181 --> 00:13:00,151
twice the speed of sound.
226
00:13:02,551 --> 00:13:03,591
Oh!
227
00:13:03,911 --> 00:13:05,530
Yeah, what can I say?
228
00:13:05,531 --> 00:13:06,931
She's fast!
229
00:13:09,467 --> 00:13:11,931
Oh, I love the Carousel!
230
00:13:11,956 --> 00:13:14,531
- OK, now I tm scared.
- I love it!
231
00:13:15,031 --> 00:13:18,566
THEY SHRl EK
232
00:13:19,807 --> 00:13:22,650
Your name is Rory Reid
or Rory "Worried"?
233
00:13:22,651 --> 00:13:24,690
I'm very worried right now!
234
00:13:24,691 --> 00:13:28,410
She has this confidence
and trust in the car and knowledge
235
00:13:28,411 --> 00:13:32,411
of every metre of the tarmac,
so she knows she can brake later.
236
00:13:33,236 --> 00:13:36,650
She brakes at points where you think
that's a crash, that's an accident,
237
00:13:36,691 --> 00:13:37,571
we're having an accident.
238
00:13:37,572 --> 00:13:39,211
But we're not. We're braking.
239
00:13:39,929 --> 00:13:41,531
Oh, sorry!
240
00:13:42,479 --> 00:13:44,730
And we're turning in
and you think, we probably
241
00:13:44,731 --> 00:13:47,410
shouldn't be accelerating so soon
because we might wash out and
242
00:13:47,411 --> 00:13:50,331
hit a wall. No. We're turning,
we're cool. It's all happening.
243
00:13:55,871 --> 00:13:58,650
She's one step ahead of the car,
one step ahead of you,
244
00:13:58,651 --> 00:14:00,250
one step ahead of the track.
245
00:14:00,251 --> 00:14:03,170
Shets in total control and
you have to dial yourself
246
00:14:03,171 --> 00:14:07,306
into her frequency before you start
to relax and appreciate
247
00:14:07,331 --> 00:14:08,691
what she's doing.
248
00:14:13,912 --> 00:14:17,131
What is Sabine like as a teacher?
Tough love.
249
00:14:18,130 --> 00:14:19,691
- Push!
- I'm pushing!
250
00:14:19,888 --> 00:14:21,810
This is the fastest part
of the track.
251
00:14:21,811 --> 00:14:24,170
I'm not scared.
How can it be?
252
00:14:24,171 --> 00:14:26,251
Scare me, scare me!
253
00:14:26,275 --> 00:14:28,050
- Scare you?
- Scare me!
254
00:14:28,051 --> 00:14:29,071
I'm trying!
255
00:14:29,096 --> 00:14:31,841
I actually remember, we came around
the corner, I was pushing and
256
00:14:31,866 --> 00:14:34,491
pushing and pushing, and I ended up
on the dirt.
257
00:14:38,871 --> 00:14:40,690
And we were heading towards
the pit wall,
258
00:14:40,691 --> 00:14:42,691
this metal barrier, really quickly.
259
00:14:42,818 --> 00:14:43,879
Oh!
260
00:14:45,149 --> 00:14:46,091
I panicked.
261
00:14:46,092 --> 00:14:47,930
And she was like:
"Keep the wheel straight."
262
00:14:47,931 --> 00:14:50,211
- She was still coaching.
- Sweep the wheel!
263
00:14:56,199 --> 00:14:59,370
And then at the end, where I thought
she'd be really angry with me
264
00:14:59,371 --> 00:15:01,850
for putting her in danger,
she was like,
265
00:15:01,851 --> 00:15:04,690
"Yes, you finally get it.
You have to push."
266
00:15:04,691 --> 00:15:06,970
To go through the dirt,
that's a good sign.
267
00:15:06,971 --> 00:15:08,730
That means you're really
pushing, Rory.
268
00:15:08,731 --> 00:15:12,131
I don't know if you just realised,
but we almost died there!
269
00:15:12,156 --> 00:15:15,090
I like that, Rory. You must push,
you must hit the dirt,
270
00:15:15,091 --> 00:15:17,810
go through the dust.
" Eat my dust,"
271
00:15:17,811 --> 00:15:19,611
that's what we want to see.
272
00:15:20,129 --> 00:15:21,511
This woman is crazy.
273
00:15:22,644 --> 00:15:27,466
Sabine brought that same energy
and enthusiasm to every one
274
00:15:27,491 --> 00:15:32,856
of her appearances, no matter
the race track or the race car.
275
00:15:33,940 --> 00:15:38,010
Chain car racing, weird concept, not
something I ever want to do again.
276
00:15:38,011 --> 00:15:39,411
Hey, buddy.
277
00:15:40,373 --> 00:15:41,758
Oh, God, no.
278
00:15:41,783 --> 00:15:46,851
- Let's smash some stuff.
- No, let's not smash some stuff, Sabine.
279
00:15:47,571 --> 00:15:51,546
Poor Chris, I don't think he knew
that Sabine was going to be driving
280
00:15:51,571 --> 00:15:52,536
the chain car.
281
00:15:52,561 --> 00:15:55,210
He was in the back seat,
operating the brakes
282
00:15:55,211 --> 00:15:57,211
and Sabine had steering and throttle.
283
00:15:57,555 --> 00:15:58,633
Brake, Harris.
284
00:15:58,700 --> 00:15:59,746
Yeah.
285
00:16:00,328 --> 00:16:01,366
Sorry.
286
00:16:01,391 --> 00:16:04,016
This is a woman, you know,
who has barrel-rolled many cars.
287
00:16:04,041 --> 00:16:05,490
She doesn't give a monkey's.
288
00:16:05,491 --> 00:16:08,296
And true to form, it hurt.
289
00:16:15,842 --> 00:16:18,936
I know Harris quite well,
from the olden days, and I know
290
00:16:19,311 --> 00:16:23,577
he was genuinely alarmed by that -
I can tell the difference.
291
00:16:23,602 --> 00:16:25,697
Oh, my God!
292
00:16:25,722 --> 00:16:28,567
This is the worst thing
I've ever done.
293
00:16:34,587 --> 00:16:36,911
Chris, good job.
Are you still there?
294
00:16:37,826 --> 00:16:39,640
- Just.
- It scared him.
295
00:16:39,681 --> 00:16:41,586
It takes quite a lot
to scare Harris, and
296
00:16:42,203 --> 00:16:44,131
and Sabine thought it was funny.
297
00:16:44,491 --> 00:16:46,646
You total lunatic.
298
00:16:49,921 --> 00:16:53,176
What was really telling,
actually, in all of these events,
299
00:16:53,201 --> 00:16:57,220
was you can tell someone's got
a real natural driving gift
300
00:16:57,251 --> 00:16:59,250
when you just throw them
into anything.
301
00:16:59,251 --> 00:17:01,986
Sabine was that person.
She was like a Swiss Army knife.
302
00:17:02,011 --> 00:17:06,096
You never get a sense of danger
with her behind the wheel, ever.
303
00:17:06,121 --> 00:17:09,091
There was only... even in that
King of the Hammers thing.
304
00:17:10,111 --> 00:17:11,850
The King of the Hammers
305
00:17:11,851 --> 00:17:15,819
is an extreme off-road competition
held every year
306
00:17:15,851 --> 00:17:17,656
in Southern California.
307
00:17:19,909 --> 00:17:25,211
It is considered one of the world's
most challenging motorsport events.
308
00:17:27,631 --> 00:17:30,707
I remember standing, doing
an opening shot somewhere
309
00:17:30,732 --> 00:17:31,936
in the Mojave Desert.
310
00:17:31,961 --> 00:17:34,250
The scenery was remarkable
and I just stood and looked at her
311
00:17:34,251 --> 00:17:36,051
and went, "What on earth
are we doing here?"
312
00:17:36,965 --> 00:17:40,130
Woo! This is what I call
a proper playground.
313
00:17:40,131 --> 00:17:42,336
She loved Americana.
314
00:17:42,361 --> 00:17:44,016
She liked big American cars.
315
00:17:44,041 --> 00:17:45,226
She loved all that stuff.
316
00:17:45,251 --> 00:17:46,433
So we turn up to
do King of the Hammers,
317
00:17:46,434 --> 00:17:48,250
there's just 50,000,
for want of a better phrase,
318
00:17:48,251 --> 00:17:53,529
rednecks - with ATVs, quads,
desert, drinking beer,
319
00:17:53,554 --> 00:17:54,650
with rock music playing.
320
00:17:54,651 --> 00:17:57,290
She just walked in and went,
" I've come home."
321
00:17:57,291 --> 00:18:00,416
This vehicle has been on its roof
several times, Sabine.
322
00:18:00,441 --> 00:18:02,610
But that's standard, isn't it?
323
00:18:02,611 --> 00:18:04,496
Are you not worried by this?
324
00:18:04,521 --> 00:18:08,936
I can't wait, actually.
Don't cry, Harris, please.
325
00:18:09,491 --> 00:18:12,564
The boss of King of the Hammers,
the owner, Dave Cole,
326
00:18:13,161 --> 00:18:15,906
delivered a pretty crushing summary
327
00:18:15,931 --> 00:18:17,946
of what he thought our chances
were in the event.
328
00:18:17,971 --> 00:18:20,091
She's going to kill it.
You're not going to make it.
329
00:18:20,691 --> 00:18:23,130
Anybody that can drive a van
around Nurburgring
330
00:18:23,131 --> 00:18:24,346
is willing to try different things.
331
00:18:24,371 --> 00:18:27,216
Plus I've heard she's already been upside
down and you're worried about that.
332
00:18:27,241 --> 00:18:28,211
So you're going to drive scared
333
00:18:28,212 --> 00:18:29,570
and you're going to be
upside down anyway.
334
00:18:29,571 --> 00:18:31,010
She's going to kill it.
335
00:18:31,011 --> 00:18:34,266
I was just stood there thinking,
A, that hurts.
336
00:18:34,291 --> 00:18:35,811
And B, you're probably right.
337
00:18:36,071 --> 00:18:37,970
I didn't want to be there,
at that point,
338
00:18:37,971 --> 00:18:39,571
but she just loved it.
339
00:18:44,437 --> 00:18:47,856
She never looked afraid -
speed didn't bother her.
340
00:18:47,881 --> 00:18:51,010
Let's think about it as the
Nurburgring in the Stone Ages.
341
00:18:53,331 --> 00:18:55,006
Whoo!
342
00:18:55,031 --> 00:18:56,626
Oh, I hit that!
343
00:18:56,651 --> 00:18:59,296
Whoa, look at that!
344
00:19:00,371 --> 00:19:02,171
This is crazy.
345
00:19:06,111 --> 00:19:07,811
Yeah, then it caught fire.
346
00:19:09,235 --> 00:19:10,570
Oh, God.
347
00:19:10,571 --> 00:19:12,491
You got smoke coming out of
the back.
348
00:19:13,311 --> 00:19:14,810
She didn't give a monkey's
about any of it.
349
00:19:14,811 --> 00:19:16,650
I mean, fire is a problem.
350
00:19:16,651 --> 00:19:20,830
I remember telling her, just pull
over and get out, just get out.
351
00:19:20,855 --> 00:19:24,186
And she very calmly
pulled over and got out.
352
00:19:24,211 --> 00:19:25,816
I don't think she even raised
her voice.
353
00:19:26,544 --> 00:19:27,731
Just get out.
354
00:19:32,371 --> 00:19:33,631
Whoo!
355
00:19:34,611 --> 00:19:35,936
She's out, she's OK.
356
00:19:43,293 --> 00:19:47,571
As a driver unfazed by any challenge
that came her way,
357
00:19:47,981 --> 00:19:52,731
Sabine's successes continued
both off track and on.
358
00:19:53,071 --> 00:19:55,111
Alongside her partner, Klaus,
359
00:19:55,136 --> 00:19:58,571
at Frikadelli Racing, the team
they founded together,
360
00:19:58,761 --> 00:20:03,291
The Queen of the Nurburgring
continued to show her class.
361
00:20:04,111 --> 00:20:07,227
And in 2019, the arrival
362
00:20:07,252 --> 00:20:09,776
of Top Gear's current
presenting team
363
00:20:09,801 --> 00:20:14,051
saw Sabine make another
impactful return to the show.
364
00:20:14,536 --> 00:20:15,706
She was fun.
365
00:20:16,024 --> 00:20:20,546
She just brought a presence
and she was a real treat for us
366
00:20:20,571 --> 00:20:22,891
to work with and
a treat for the viewer,
367
00:20:23,156 --> 00:20:25,786
because when Sabine turned up,
something's happening.
368
00:20:30,398 --> 00:20:32,731
We were doing the banger racing day.
369
00:20:32,911 --> 00:20:34,976
I was a bit nervous
about meeting her,
370
00:20:35,001 --> 00:20:38,666
not so much for
the driving side of it,
371
00:20:38,691 --> 00:20:40,770
more about - I hope we got on.
372
00:20:40,771 --> 00:20:43,707
You know, I really wanted
for her to like me.
373
00:20:43,732 --> 00:20:46,191
Hello, my Paddy patty cake.
374
00:20:46,511 --> 00:20:50,707
- Hi, Sabine, good to see you.
- Bang!
375
00:20:50,732 --> 00:20:51,691
"Bang!"
376
00:20:51,692 --> 00:20:55,866
And I remember sitting there going,
I think I said something like,
377
00:20:55,891 --> 00:20:59,771
"Oh no, it's the German,
I thought they got rid of her."
378
00:21:00,811 --> 00:21:03,066
But no, they hadn't!
379
00:21:05,961 --> 00:21:08,896
I was in a banger car and we had
to defend Paddy's car.
380
00:21:11,971 --> 00:21:14,551
And she had to try
and take Paddy out.
381
00:21:15,284 --> 00:21:17,171
Can we not let them through?
382
00:21:17,925 --> 00:21:20,131
I feel like Kevin Costner
in The Bodyguard.
383
00:21:20,531 --> 00:21:22,306
No-one's coming through here.
384
00:21:22,331 --> 00:21:24,291
You couldn't take me.
385
00:21:24,472 --> 00:21:27,776
Oh! Sabine's having a go at me!
386
00:21:29,727 --> 00:21:32,546
I think she just toyed with us,
it was like a cat
387
00:21:32,571 --> 00:21:34,246
with a ball just pawing at it.
388
00:21:34,586 --> 00:21:37,371
Paddy, I'm coming for you!
389
00:21:38,732 --> 00:21:39,731
No!
390
00:21:40,681 --> 00:21:44,011
Paddy's in the big car. He's got
all the chat, Paddy,
391
00:21:44,482 --> 00:21:47,026
but again, it's another man
out their depth!
392
00:21:47,051 --> 00:21:49,096
I sense impending doom!
393
00:21:50,172 --> 00:21:54,491
Paddy? Sweetheart?
I'm coming for you!
394
00:21:54,516 --> 00:21:58,386
When she decides she's had enough,
it's game over,
395
00:21:58,411 --> 00:22:00,226
and that is exactly what happened.
396
00:22:00,251 --> 00:22:02,850
Whoo!
397
00:22:02,851 --> 00:22:05,626
This doesn't feel good. Oh, no!
398
00:22:05,651 --> 00:22:08,616
- Oh, no!
- Bye-bye.
399
00:22:10,891 --> 00:22:13,411
Oh! Oh, no!
400
00:22:14,131 --> 00:22:15,467
Oh!
401
00:22:17,001 --> 00:22:18,536
Bye, Paddy!
402
00:22:21,910 --> 00:22:24,050
Then, you know,
I spent time with her.
403
00:22:24,051 --> 00:22:28,891
We had a few days in a Portofino,
you know, driving round together.
404
00:22:30,921 --> 00:22:32,786
M18 south, there,
405
00:22:32,811 --> 00:22:33,651
that's us.
406
00:22:33,675 --> 00:22:35,675
- Ja!
- Hey, hey!
407
00:22:36,451 --> 00:22:38,526
I loved spending time
in that car with her.
408
00:22:38,551 --> 00:22:41,131
I loved... I loved
our little arguments.
409
00:22:41,451 --> 00:22:44,691
Have you seen Thirsk on there?
We're 20 miles away from Thirsk.
410
00:22:44,891 --> 00:22:46,696
There's nothing on my map!
411
00:22:46,721 --> 00:22:48,746
Nothing on my map!
412
00:22:48,771 --> 00:22:51,130
That's the bloody hotel
we've just come out of!
413
00:22:51,131 --> 00:22:52,146
What?!
414
00:22:52,171 --> 00:22:55,337
You've drove us all the way back
to where we started!
415
00:22:57,786 --> 00:23:02,946
There is an irony in that
she can navigate 147 corners
416
00:23:02,971 --> 00:23:06,391
at the Nurburgring,
but struggles round York.
417
00:23:07,131 --> 00:23:08,197
Just...
418
00:23:08,650 --> 00:23:12,091
It's just Sabine, innit, all over.
419
00:23:15,391 --> 00:23:16,730
She loved her animals.
420
00:23:16,731 --> 00:23:19,736
And I think I asked her,
what are you up to this weekend
421
00:23:19,761 --> 00:23:21,010
and what did you do last weekend?
422
00:23:21,011 --> 00:23:23,331
And she said, "Oh, I'm going
to go and pick up..."
423
00:23:23,646 --> 00:23:25,226
I think it was, like, a sheep.
424
00:23:25,251 --> 00:23:27,856
I'm like: "Oh cool, what
car are you taking?"
425
00:23:27,881 --> 00:23:29,789
Cos we used to talk cars.
426
00:23:29,891 --> 00:23:32,386
And she was like,
"No, no, I'm taking the helicopter."
427
00:23:32,411 --> 00:23:35,346
"You're going to put a sheep
in a helicopter?"
428
00:23:35,371 --> 00:23:37,491
And that was typical Sabine.
429
00:23:39,609 --> 00:23:42,191
When she walked into a room,
it was as though...
430
00:23:42,891 --> 00:23:46,250
...everything got just a bit
brighter and a bit louder.
431
00:23:46,251 --> 00:23:50,066
It was just... she was turning
everything up on your television
432
00:23:50,091 --> 00:23:51,850
until it was just like that.
433
00:23:51,851 --> 00:23:55,651
And that's what five minutes
with Sabine was like.
434
00:23:58,675 --> 00:24:01,011
I remember her, being sat
behind the wheel -
435
00:24:01,871 --> 00:24:06,211
big smile on her face,
shouting and screaming.
436
00:24:06,621 --> 00:24:08,371
And she just goes past us.
437
00:24:09,641 --> 00:24:12,516
She was an absolute force of nature,
438
00:24:12,541 --> 00:24:14,416
and that's how I want
to remember her.
439
00:24:15,424 --> 00:24:18,091
Hold on tight to your balls, Sonny!
440
00:24:18,201 --> 00:24:21,376
It's the breadth of the affection
for her, it was everybody
441
00:24:21,401 --> 00:24:26,236
from the hardcore Nurburgringers,
who respected her enormously,
442
00:24:26,261 --> 00:24:29,026
to just, you know, households
who watched Top Gear,
443
00:24:29,051 --> 00:24:32,106
and who just loved her because
she'd turn up and sort of slightly
444
00:24:32,131 --> 00:24:35,756
smash the place up, you know,
and ridicule the rest of us.
445
00:24:35,781 --> 00:24:39,186
And I think it earned her
a huge, huge number of fans.
446
00:24:43,531 --> 00:24:47,450
There weren't ever really many women
racing when I was coming up
447
00:24:47,451 --> 00:24:51,396
through the ranks, let alone
successful women racing,
448
00:24:51,421 --> 00:24:53,146
but Sabine was always there.
449
00:24:53,171 --> 00:24:56,051
She was always someone
that I watched from afar.
450
00:24:56,311 --> 00:25:00,696
And seeing her success
definitely inspired me.
451
00:25:04,731 --> 00:25:10,066
She was a real figurehead for women
within motor sport, and she had such
452
00:25:10,091 --> 00:25:13,106
belief in her talent
and her ability.
453
00:25:16,664 --> 00:25:23,461
Just a source of joy - you watch
those films with her in, again,
454
00:25:23,811 --> 00:25:25,426
you just watch her smile.
455
00:25:26,411 --> 00:25:27,896
Faster!
456
00:25:30,825 --> 00:25:35,450
Watch her expressions when she was
driving right on the ragged edge.
457
00:25:35,809 --> 00:25:37,971
Ah, I love it!
458
00:25:39,191 --> 00:25:43,571
Even at those moments, she was happy
to give in to the joy of it.
459
00:25:46,051 --> 00:25:47,551
Woohoo!
460
00:25:48,731 --> 00:25:50,251
I love my job!
461
00:25:53,161 --> 00:25:56,106
And the tragedy is,
I'm sure she had a great deal
462
00:25:56,131 --> 00:25:58,876
more of that to share
with all of us.
36301
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