Desiré Wilson

Desiré Wilson
Born 26 November 1953 (1953-11-26) (age 58)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality South African
Active years 1980
Teams non-works Williams
Races 1 (0 starts)
Championships 0
Wins 0
Podiums 0
Career points 0
Pole positions 0
Fastest laps 0
First race 1980 British Grand Prix
Last race 1980 British Grand Prix

Desiré Randall Wilson (born 26 November 1953 in Brakpan) is a former racing driver from South Africa,[1] one of only five women to have competed in Formula One.[2] She entered one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix in 1980 with a non-works Williams FW07 prepared by Brands Hatch Racing, but failed to qualify.[3] She also raced in the 1981 world championship South African Grand Prix, however, this race was later deleted from the 1981 world championship for political reasons, hence it is now referred to as a non-champinship F1 race. After a disasterous start, she moved up though the field, passing noted F1 drivers in faster cars including Nigel Mansell, before spinning off and damaging her rear wing after 52 laps.[4]

She became the only woman to win an F1 race of any kind when she won at Brands Hatch in the short-lived British Aurora F1 series in 1980.[3] As a result of this achievement, she has a grandstand at Brands Hatch named after her.[5] Following her attempts in Formula One, Wilson participated in other disciplines including CART[6] and sports car racing.[5] In 1982, Wilson entered the Indianapolis 500, but failed to qualify.[5]

She is married to fellow South Africa-native and road course architect, Alan Wilson.[2]


Contents

Racing record

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 WDC Points
1980 Brands Hatch Racing Williams FW07 Cosworth V8 ARG
BRA
RSA
USW
BEL
MON
FRA
GBR
DNQ
GER
AUT
NED
ITA
CAN
USA
NC 0

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Class No Tyres Car Team Co-Drivers Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1982 C 37 D Grid Plaza S1
Ford Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8
Grid Racing Emilio de Villota
Alain de Cadenet
7 DNF DNF
1983 C 18 D Porsche 956
Porsche Type-935 2.6L Turbo Flat-6
Obermaier Racing Axel Plankenhorn
Jürgen Lässig
347 7th 7th
1991 C1 40 D Spice SE90C
Ford Cosworth DFZ 3.5L V8
Euro Racing
A.O. Racing
Lyn St. James
Cathy Muller
47 DNF DNF

American Open-Wheel racing results

CART

(key)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points
1982 Theodore Racing
PHO1

ATL

INDY
DNQ

MIL1

CLE

MIS1

MIL2

POR

RIV

RDA

MIS2

PHX
NC -
1983 Wysard Racing
ATL

INDY
DNQ

MIL

CLE
10

MIS1

ROA
Ret

POC
Ret

RIV
Ret

MDO
Ret

MIS2

LVG
Ret

LS
Ret

PHX
13
28th 3
1984 Wysard Racing
LBH
DNQ

PHX1

INDY
DNQ

MIL

POR

MEA

CLE

MIS1

ROA

POC

MDO

SAN

MIS2

PHX2

LS

LVG
NC -
1986 Machinist Union Racing Team
PHX1

LBH

INDY

MIL

POR

MEA

CLE

TOR

MIS1

POC

MDO
Ret

SAN

MIS2

ROA
Ret

LS
Ret

PHX2

MIA
NC -

† Non Championship race

Indianapolis 500

Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team
1982 Eagle 81 Cosworth DNQ Theodore Racing
1983 March 82C Cosworth DNQ Wysard Racing
1984 March 83C Cosworth DNQ Wysard Racing

Indy Lights

(key)

Year Team Series 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
1986 ARS ARS
PHX1
6

MIL

MEA

TOR

'POC

MDO

ROA

LS

PHX2

MIA
24th 8
1991 Leading Edge Motorsport Indylights
LBH

PHX

MIL

DET

POR

CLE

MEA

TOR

DEN
12

MDO

NAZ

LS
24th 1

See also

References

  1. ^ "Desiré Wilson in the media - page 1". Wilson Motorsport Inc.. http://www.wilsonmotorsport.com/public_html/code/desire.htm. Retrieved 19 May 2010. 
  2. ^ a b Taylor, S. (2010) Lunch with... Desiré Wilson. Motor Sport, 86/2, 62-68.
  3. ^ a b Small, Steve (1994). The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who. Enfield: Guinness Publishing. p. 415. ISBN 0 85112 702 9. 
  4. ^ Diepraam, Mattijs; Muelas, Felix; Ferner, Michael (Christmas 2000). "The one that didn't count". FORIX 8W. Autosport.com. http://forix.autosport.com/8w/za81.html. Retrieved 19 May 2010. 
  5. ^ a b c "Desiré Wilson - Biography". Sydney, NSW: Formula One Rejects. 21 August 2005. sections 1980-81, 1982-83, 1996-98. http://www.f1rejects.com/drivers/wilson/biography.html. Retrieved 19 May 2010. 
  6. ^ Diepraam, Mattijs (October 1998). "F1's only female winner". FORIX 8W. Autosport.com. Why?. http://forix.autosport.com/8w/dwilson.html. Retrieved 19 May 2010. 

External links