Rally legend Mouton receives FIA Lifetime Achievement Award

Rally legend Michele Mouton picked up the FIA Lifetime Achievement Award on the world motorsport governing physique’s prize-giving in Rwanda.

Mouton has loved a 50-year profession in motorsport appearing as a trailblazer for girls drivers whereas enjoying an important function in enhancing security.

Mouton is most well-known for her exploits competing within the World Rally Championship, the place she received 4 rallies and stays the one lady to win a spherical of the championship. In 1982, whereas driving for Audi, she challenged for the world title earlier than finally ending runner-up to Opel’s Walter Rohrl.

After retiring from driving, Mouton has remained closely concerned in rallying, and organising the Race of Champions occasions earlier than taking over the function of WRC supervisor after which the FIA’s rally security delegate.

This 12 months marked Mouton’s final season within the place having opted to retire from the function.

“Thanks. I did not count on this honour, thanks a lot. It is a fantastic pleasure,” mentioned Mouton upon receiving the award to a standing ovation.

“I do not know what to say, simply time goes very quick. I’ve spent 50 years of my life in motorsport, 15 years as a rally driver, 20 years organising the Race of Champions and now 15 years with the FIA.

“I am leaving at present and at present security is a very powerful factor and I am pleased with all we do with all of the staff on the FIA. Now I go away the ground to the youthful ones, and I do know they may proceed very properly.”

Mouton additionally awarded the champions trophies to Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe, whereas Toyota’s undertaking director Yuichiro Haruna accepted the producers’ trophy.

“For many who got here just a few instances to the FIA prize giving know I’ve been many instances up right here however by no means on first place,” mentioned Neuville.

“It is a few years we now have been chasing this very particular title and it looks like a reward for all these years of laborious work. We have now been within the World Rally Championship since 2012, so a very long time in the past.

“It is a reward for us but in addition our staff, our crew round us who labored all of the 12 months by means of as laborious as we will to chase that title and get it lastly, so we’re actually proud.

“It is a large strain additionally going from our shoulders and I am positive the upcoming season we’re going to take pleasure in much more.”

Photograph from the FIA Gala