Desiré Wilson
South African pioneer who won a Formula 1 race in 1980, in the British Aurora F1 series.
- Nationality
- South African
- Birthplace
- Brakpan, South Africa
- Disciplines
- Formula 1, Sports Cars, IndyCar
Desiré Wilson was born in Brakpan, South Africa, in 1953. She is one of a small number of women to have entered a Formula One World Championship Grand Prix.
The 1980 Aurora F1 win
In April 1980 Wilson won a round of the British Aurora F1 Championship at Brands Hatch, driving a Wolf. Aurora F1 was a national series that used Formula 1 cars, but it was not part of the World Championship. Her win is a real Formula 1 race victory, not a World Championship Grand Prix win.
World Championship attempt
Later in 1980 she entered the British Grand Prix in a privately run Williams but did not qualify.
Kyalami 1981
In 1981 she raced for Tyrrell in the South African Grand Prix. That race was held outside the World Championship because of a dispute between the sport's governing body and the teams.
Sports cars and beyond
Wilson won international sports car races in 1980 alongside Alain de Cadenet and later raced in American single-seaters and at Le Mans.
Last updated Oct 9, 2026 · Facts verified as of Oct 9, 2026
