Yvette Fontaine celebrated for 80th birthday and racing career

Belgian racing legend Yvette Fontaine was honored during a surprise celebration for her 80th birthday held on August 15 at Eventcenter The Max in Heusden-Zolder. The event brought together family, friends, former racing colleagues, and members of the press to celebrate her historic career.

Fontaine, known for her significant impact on motorsport, became the general Belgian touring car champion in 1969 while driving a Texaco Ford Escort. Her career included setting 19 speed records on highways near Namur using various Ford vehicles.

The celebration featured the screening of a nearly ninety-minute documentary detailing her life and racing achievements, a project involving over 600 hours of work. Attendees also saw two exact replicas of the Ford Escorts used during her successful racing years.