Irish motorsport legend Rosemary Smith has been honoured by the global federation of motoring heritage organisations, FIVA, who recently made her one of nine 2022 nominees to “The FIVA Heritage Hall of Fame”.
Joining Smith as nominees are German double world rally champion, Walter Röhrl and Italian Cesare Fiorio, who was the Ferrari F1 Team Manager and Lancia WRC team principal in the 1990s. Also nominated are three greats from an earlier era, the pre-war Czech racing ace Elisabeth Junek (1900- 1994), the far seeing Soichiro Honda (1906 – 1991) and Italian car design pioneer Battista Pininfarina (1893 -1966).
Rosemary Smith had an incredible career in motorsport in the 1950s and 1960s initially - with a crowning triumph on her outright victory in the Dutch Tulip Rally of 1965 – the equivalent of a World Rally Championship round today. She competed in eight Monte Carlo Rallies and finished some of the most arduous long-distance events – the London to Sydney Rally (1968) and the 1970 London to Mexico Rally.
Willing – and capable – of competing successfully in all manner of motorsport events – from Sebring 12 hours to Goodwood Revivals, Smith topped out her career behind the wheel in 2017 when she became the oldest person (79) to drive a current specification Formula One car – as she successfully tested the works Renault Sport F1 car at Circuit Paul Ricard in southern France.
Smith expressed her delight at the award: “I had no idea that this might happen. I was very pleasantly surprised when I was advised of it. The IVVCC (Irish Veteran & Vintage Car Club) put my name forward, and I am grateful to President Myles O’Reilly and delegate to FIVA, Peadar Ward for their efforts."
In recent years Smith has been a great advocate of transition year, young driver training and since her F1 test is a brand ambassador for Renault Ireland.
Renault Ireland Country Operations Director Paddy Magee said: “Rosemary was a female pioneer in motorsport and still today she is making her mark with her driver training programme. We are delighted at Renault Group Ireland that she has been recognised by FIVA Heritage in this way, she is a very special lady”.
FIVA (Federation Internationale des Vehicules Anciens) have a seven person judging panel for the annual Heritage Hall of Fame including US media star Jay Leno and ex-Pink Floyd musician and car collector Nick Mason. FIVA has over one million members via 67 national motoring heritage organisations throughout the world.
