CHRISTINE BECKERS - 12/04/1973
(Home - Brussels, Belgium)
Christine Beckers often entered races simply as "Christine", no other identification needed. She was a gifted driver who achieved success both on the track and off. Motorsport had been her ambition since childhood and she first realized her dream in 1966, after leaving college. Although rallying remained her main activity, Christine branched out into circuit racing the following year, when she completed her first Spa 24 Hours; where she and co-driver Marie-Claude Beaumont finished 24th. Team officials from Alfa Romeo Benelux noticed her talent and she was rewarded with a works contract for the 1968 season. This was the beginning of a long and prosperous relationship with the marque for the Belgian woman, who was still only 25. Her first year as a professional racing driver took her to race tracks and hill climbs all over Europe. Surprisingly, she still had time for her first love, rallying, and won the Coupe des Dames on that year's Tulip Rally. 1969 was an even busier year. Christine collected 20 class wins for Alfa in various series. Touring cars were her main focus for 1970, driving the works Alfa again. She made history at the Nürburgring by becoming the first woman to mount the podium in an ETCC race, after coming third in the 2000 GTAm. 1971 saw Christine branch out again. For the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally, she switched to the Alfa rally squad. It was back to the circuits in 1972, and a particularly successful year for Christine, with two outright wins at Dijon and Paul Ricard. Her new challenge was sportscars, and the
following season, she raced a Chevron B21with good results. 1974 saw her race the Ford-engined Chevron B21 and won the 24 hours of Lemans. Piloted by Christine, Marie Laurent and Yvette Fontaine, it won the 2000cc class after leading for much of the way. She returned to Le Mans as part of the Inaltera-Ford team. She paired with female Grand Prix driver and sportscar ace Lella Lombardi, Christine drove hard to a strong eleventh place overall in 1977. The pair had previously driven the car at the Daytona 24 Hours. The paths of the two female stars crossed again in the USA in 1977, but as rivals this time. Both took part in the NASCAR Firecracker 400 at Daytona Speedway, a considerable achievement for a European driver. Christine retired with no
24 Hours of LeMans 1977
brakes while in 23rd place, and ended up 37th. Three women ran in this race as Janet Guthrie was also in the field. Becker's car was fielded by Junie Dunlavey. One of the few times he ever entered more than one car. Christine Beckers always looked for new challenges, and her latest one in 1979 was the Paris-Dakar Rally, which she completed on her first attempt, winning the Coupe des Dames. In 1980, she won the Dakar Coupe des Dames
again, coming seventh in a Range Rover. Her fourth and final attempt at the Dakar was the most successful. Driving a Range Rover, she was fifth overall, first privateer and first woman to the Senegalese capital. After this triumph, she retired from motorsports competition. Following her retirement, she raised two adopted children and worked as a Formula One journalist, among many other activities. Some info from SpeedQueens.
Dakar Rally 1980
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