Michèle Mouton is the most successful woman to ever compete in the World Rally Championship, and this year marks 50 years since her first rally in 1974. Early in her career, she was so fast that her male competitors disputed her wins and forced the FIA to inspect her Alpine A110 for any illegal modifications, but she was 100 percent innocent of tampering with her car, and 100 percent guilty of being a badass racing driver.
She helped Audi win the 1982 manufacturer’s championship, including competing in a race just one hour after learning that her father had succumbed to cancer and passed away. She also set a Pikes Peak International Hill Climb course record against a field of doubting American men. From 2010 to 2022, Mouton was the president of the FIA’s Women in Motorsport commission, a group founded to encourage and facilitate more women to race.
The Dirtfish rally school sat down with Mouton to watch her victory at the 1982 Acropolis rally, one of her three wins that year. This was her first time rewatching the race ever — she said “I never watch anything because I even don’t have any footage. I am living today, not yesterday. I have very good memories; when I can see it, it’s good to see it. But I never think about that.” It made for a fascinating, insightful YouTube video, which you can watch below:
It’s brilliant to watch her react to her historic 1982 WRC Acropolis Rally win, and in her truest form, Mouton remained gracious, stoic, and kind with her recollections. She cites the remarkably challenging conditions of this particular race with a razor sharp memory, even at 72 years old, and remembers her good friend Henri Toivonen whose infamous and tragic death alongside his co-driver Sergio Cresto resulted in the FISA banning Group B cars from competing any longer. As a side note, she even looks youthful, radiant, and absolutely beautiful — I hope her next YouTube video is a skincare routine.
Mouton is a legend in motorsports, and in sports as a whole. She is a brilliant, talented driving machine who paved the way for women in motorsports, and whose involvement in the Women in Motorsport commission tangibly helped countless people. It’s great to see her revisit her storied history, and share her intelligence with new generations.