Nina Rindt

Nina Rindt, born Nina Lincoln in 1943, the daughter of Finnish racing driver and tennis player Curt Lincoln. Although initially educated in Finland, Nina was sent to a boarding school in Switzerland to complete her education.

Her poise and beauty allowed her the opportunity to become a fashion model and to travel the world. Nina’s connections in the motor racing world, and her status as model, made her one of the most glamorous women of the period, so it was no surprise that she dated a racing driver.

When she married Jochen Rindt in 1967, he had established himself as one of the best young drivers of his generation. He had won the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans and was the fastest driver in F2. They were a golden couple. Sadly, on 5 September 1970, Jochen who was leading the F1 championship, was killed when he lost control of his Lotus, during practice for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, while Nina was on the pit-wall, a chronometer in the hand (picture below).

Jochen Rindt had so far, dominated the 1970 season in his Lotus 49 and 72, with victories in Monaco, Zandvoort, Charade, Brands-Hatch and Hockenheim; so his points tally could not be beaten, and he was granted the 1970 World Drivers’ title, posthumously.