Mikkola, Schmitz and Walker: Three great losses for motorsport (obituary)
Hannu Mikkola, the Finnish high-flyer, passed away on February 26, 2021 at the age of 78.
Walter Röhrl once said: "Before I drove rallies myself, I only knew two names: Timo Mäkinen and Hannu Mikkola. Hannu was like a god to me."
Back then, he still drove a Ford Escort (picture above).
"The Gentleman", as he was also known, then signed with Audi and instantly became famous in the German-speaking world.
He lived up to his nickname when, during his quattro debut, the car suddenly veered off into the rock face due to a forgotten bolt in the steering and he, in his calm and level-headed manner, ticked off the departure without comment.
His technique often failed him and Michele Mouton was almost placed above him in the media. In 1983, however, he won the title in an Audi at the age of 41. With the first victory in Sweden in 1981, he ensured the quattro breakthrough and with the last victory after six successful years, he ended the quattro chapter with the Audi 200 quattro at the Safari Rally in 1987. He was able to defeat almost everyone on four wheels, only cancer was also an unfair opponent for him.
Sabine Schmitz, the Ring queen, was the fastest and most successful woman on the Nordschleife. Two overall victories in the 24-hour classic and a VLN title speak for themselves.
No other woman drove as many laps of the Ring as she did. She circumnavigated the Eifel in the Ring Taxi several times a day in tourist traffic. She achieved international fame in 2004 during a guest appearance on "Top Gear", when she beat presenter Jeremy Clarkson in the same car on the Nordschleife by no less than 47 seconds. Her bet to beat Clarkson's time in a Jaguar with a Ford Transit was only a few seconds off the mark. Nevertheless, she won the hearts of so many TV viewers.
Now, at just 51, she has lost her battle with cancer. Between chemotherapy treatments over the past 4 years, she raced again, but on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, she was defeated for good.
Murray Walker, the voice of F1, fell silent on March 13, 2021.
Walker commentated on Formula 1 from 1976 to 2001. Everyone, not just his English colleagues in the F1 paddock, knew him, especially his voice, of course. This is how F1 commented on the death of the 97-year-old Briton: "It is immensely sad to hear that Murray Walker has passed away. His passion and love for the sport inspired millions of fans around the world. He will forever be a part of our history and will be sorely missed."
Jensen Button, 2009 World Champion: "Today we say farewell to one of the greats of our sport. Murray was the voice of F1 for many years, commentating with heart and soul. The legend will always live on in our memories but, in Murray's words, I have to stop because I have a lump in my throat." (For non-insiders: Walker said this emotionally in the middle of the live broadcast of Suzuka 1996, when Damon Hill crossed the finish line as world champion ...)
