If you thought motorsports was exclusively a man’s world, then you need to wake up and see the women reigning supreme on the race track. Admittedly, you’re not alone in this misconception, probably because there are plenty of guys involved in the automotive industry from mechanics and drivers to engineers to fans. However, there are many women race car drivers with equally impressive driving skills. Here’s our quick rundown of the ten best women race car drivers to have competed in recent years on race tracks all over the world.
1. Leilani Munter
Leilani Munter is a Minnesota-born girl who began racing in the Firestone Indy Circuit. She later graduated to the ARCA Racing Series and was a successful driver for Mark Gibson Racing. Now retired, her career highlights included competing in the ARCA Menards Series, the Firestone Indy Lights, the development league of IndyCar.
2. Milka Duno
Venezuelan Milka Duno is no stranger to racing. She got her start on the track in 1998 and is widely held to be one of the best female IndyCar drivers to have competed in the series. She holds the record of highest finish for a female driver in the 24 Hours of Daytona and became the first Hispanic female driver in history to compete in a NASCAR national series in the States.
3. Johanna Robbins
Johanna Robbins is a household name among NASCAR fans. She is a young, charismatic female driver blessed with skill and natural talent. In 2010 she won the 2010 Snowball Derby and has continued to be competitive in stock car racing. With her accolades, she could be a top contender for the best female racing driver in the world.
4. Ashley Force Hood
If you know the renowned drag racer John Force, then you have a rough idea of what his daughter Ashley Force Hood is capable of. The talented funny car driver has a huge fan base and a long list of wins to her name. Though she has since retired from competitive racing, during her time racing she earned top honors on the TC/FC drag strip including winning the 2007 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series’ Rookie of the Year.
5. Natacha Gachnang
Natacha Gachnang is a Swiss national with impressive racing talents. She has several successful career highlights including competing in the FIA F2 Championships and Le Man’s 24 hours. In 2010, she was a member of the first all-female crew to race at Le Mans 24 hours. She returned to Le Mans in 2013.
6. Shannon McIntosh
Shannon McIntosh is a driver who put her mark on the racing world at an early age before going on to turn in top performances in the IndyCar series. Her racing experience ranges from IndyCar’s USF2000 Series to the ARCA Racing Series, and she has received global recognition for her driving performances.
7. Susie Wolff
Hailing from Scotland, Susie Wolff was one of the most talented racing drivers in recent years. She has honed her racing skills in Formula Renault, Formula 3, and the DTM Series. In 2014, Wolff drove the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, becoming the first woman to compete in a Formula One race weekend in 22 years. She also worked as a development driver with an F1 team before retiring from competitive racing in 2015.
8. Cyndie Allemann
Cyndie Allemann is the daughter of Kurt Allemann, the Swiss karting legend. Her brother Ken Allemann is a famous racing driver too. She began her racing career in the Firestone Indy Lights Series before graduating to the Super GT Series. She competed in several 24-hour races during her career, including events at Le Mans, the Nürburgring Ring, and Dubai.
9. Madalena Antas
Madalena Antas is a talented Portuguese driver highly skilled in navigating desert sand dunes in pickup trucks. She is one of the most successful female drivers in rally series and has competed in the Dakar Rally.
10. Danica Patrick
Danica Patrick is one of the best known female racing drivers. She is without a doubt one of the most popular drivers and well-known women race car drivers in the world making a name for herself in open-wheel racing. Now retired, she has a wide fan base from all parts of the world and will always be remembered for making waves in the world of motorsports and paving the way for the women race car drivers yet to come.
