Beaumont, Marie-Claire (MC)
Name/Title
Beaumont, Marie-Claire (MC)Entry/Object ID
2025.1.84Description
Marie‑Claire Beaumont — better known in period sources as Marie‑Claude Beaumont — was one of France’s most versatile and determined women in motorsport during the 1960s and 1970s. Born in 1941 in Grenoble, she entered the sport through rallying, first as a navigator and interpreter for French and English teams before stepping into the driver’s seat herself. Her early rally career was marked by repeated success in the Coupe des Dames categories, including wins at events such as the Rally du Touquet, Rally de Mont Blanc, Tour de Corse, and the Paris–St‑Raphaël rally. She became widely respected for her precision, calmness, and ability to perform in difficult conditions — qualities that helped her and Christine Beckers win the Group 1 title at the 1967 Spa 24 Hours, making them the first two women to finish the race since the 1950s. Beaumont later transitioned into circuit racing, driving touring cars, sports cars, and even entering Le Mans, where she became the first woman to compete since 1954. She raced a Corvette in the 1971 event, sharing the car with her husband, Henri Greder, before mechanical failure ended their run after fifteen hours. Her career continued through the mid‑1970s with class wins in sports car racing and a brief appearance in Formula 2 machinery. After retiring from competition in 1977, she worked as a press officer for Renault Sport and later became a freelance motorsport photographer, remaining active in the racing world she had helped pioneer.Collection
Dr. Frederick A. Simeone Founder CollectionCategory
Race Car Drivers