Pushed by her sponsor Elf that wanted to guide her towards circuit racing, the promising driver from Grasse (France) was invited to the Winfield Racing School at Paul Ricard in 1976 for an introduction to single-seaters. The experience was helpful, but it will only strengthen her decision to stay in rallying.

After making a strong impression in rallying with a privateer Alpine Berlinette A110, Michèle Mouton was quickly spotted by Elf. Success followed swiftly for the 1974 Group 3 French runner-up and the double French women’s rally champion in 1974 and 1975. She was exceptionally talented, and François Guiter, who managed the motorsport division of the famous oil company, dreamed of turning her into a circuit racing champion.

 

Michèle Mouton (on the right) in 2021 during the FIA Girls On Track – Rising Stars selection program at the Paul Ricard circuit.

 

That’s how she arrived at the Winfield Racing School at Paul Ricard in 1976 to get introduced to single-seaters alongside Didier Pironi, who was making a name for himself in Formula Renault Europe and for whom the head of motorsport also had big plans.

“It was more of an advanced training course,” recalls Antoine Raffaëlli, the school’s chief instructor. “She thought she could improve her braking technique—she lifted off too much, and we encouraged her to keep her foot on the throttle longer and brake later! Didier was very dedicated to coaching her, very pedagogical, but after ten laps, she was already much less entertained.” Michèle herself confirms this.

“Elf was very keen on getting me into circuit racing, which is why I was sent to Castellet,” reflects Michèle, reminiscing about the experience. “I didn’t actually take part in the selection process but rather attended to a training course. Didier’s lessons were not in vain, but above all, I realized that going around in circles wasn’t for me.”

In 1977, François Guiter abandoned the idea of circuit racing for his protégée and sent Michèle and her co-driver Françoise Conconi onto the roads of the European Rally Championship in a Porsche, then in a Fiat. The World Championship would follow later with Audi. The rest is history— she won four times in WRC, placing herself among the elite of world rallying.

“In the end, circuit racing wasn’t her thing, but what incredible car control!” concludes Antoine Raffaëlli, still impressed.

 

© Photo credits: Marc de Mattia