Motorsports legend Mary McGee dead at 87... just months after going viral for interview on F1 grid in Montreal

Mary McGee, a pistillate pioneer successful the satellite of centrifugal racing, died astatine the property of 87 connected Wednesday.

McGee, who starred successful Formula One prima Lewis Hamilton's abbreviated movie 'Motorcyle Mary' successful June, passed distant successful Gardernville, Nevada, her household confirmed. The origin of decease was not disclosed. 

The racing fable was the archetypal pistillate to contention the Baja 1000, and the lone pistillate to decorativeness the Baja 500 solo.

'Mary embodied resilience, grace, and optimism,' McGee's household wrote connected Facebook. 'She was a historical jock and a motorsports pioneer who embraced life's challenges, cared profoundly for others, and made clip to brighten the lives of those astir her. 

'While we are profoundly saddened by this loss, we are comforted knowing that her airy volition proceed to radiance successful everyone she touched.

'We would similar to instrumentality a infinitesimal to widen a convey you to the healthcare providers, caregivers, friends, and household members that made Mary's modulation peaceful. She peculiarly enjoyed the past fewer months gathering those who learned her communicative done the documentary, Motorcycle Mary.' 

McGee endeared herself to fans of Formula One conscionable earlier this twelvemonth erstwhile she impermanent starred connected 1 of Sky Sports presenter Martin Brundle's infamous grid walks. 

The heartwarming interrogation with the erstwhile F1 operator astatine the Canadian Grand Prix successful Montreal won implicit the hearts of caller generations of racing fans. 

'I archetypal started racing cars successful 1957 and past I switched to motorcycles successful 1960 and I discontinue successful 2012,' she told Brundle, who knelt down to inquire her if it was her archetypal acquisition of an F1 grid, to which she replied: 'I emotion Formula 1 racing. I was astatine Riverside [in California] galore years agone for the archetypal F1 race, met [double champion] Jimmy Clark for God's sake!' 

More to follow.