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Profile
DOB: November 16, 1953
Birthplace: Johannesburg, South
Africa
Hometown: Brakpan, South Africa
Desiré Randall Wilson is a former racing
driver from South Africa, one of only five women to
have competed in Formula One. She entered one
Formula One World Championship Grand Prix in 1980
with a non-works Williams FW07 prepared by Brands
Hatch Racing, but failed to qualify. She also raced
in the 1981 non world championship South African
Grand Prix in a one off deal with Tyrrell Racing.
This race was not part of the 1981 world
championship due, in part, to the FISA–FOCA
war. She qualified 16th and, after a disastrous
start where the car stalled, she moved up though
the field in wet conditions, as conditions dried
she fell back and damaged the car when it touched a
wall while she was letting the race leader
through.
She became the only woman to win an F1 race of
any kind when she won at Brands Hatch in the
short-lived British Aurora F1 series in 1980. As a
result of this achievement, she has a grandstand at
Brands Hatch named after her. Following her
attempts in Formula One, Wilson participated in
other disciplines including CART and sports car
racing. In 1982, Wilson entered the Indianapolis
500, but failed to qualify.
She is married to fellow South Africa-native and
road course architect, Alan Wilson.
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