F1 Great Ayrton Senna Heads Automotive Hall of Fame Class of Inductees
The class includes Formula 1 great Ayrton Senna, land-speed pioneer Betty Skelton, industry executive Dieter Zetsche and former Car and Driver automotive journalist David E. Davis.
The Automotive Hall of Fame, located in Dearborn, Mich., recognizes individuals whose efforts helped shape the automotive and mobility marketplace.
'The 2025 class of inductees showcases the remarkable impact individuals have made on the automotive industry and its far-reaching influence,' said Sarah Cook, president of the Automotive Hall of Fame. 'This distinguished group of trailblazers and visionaries has shaped our industry in extraordinary ways, and we are thrilled to celebrate their achievements as they take their rightful place in the Hall of Fame.'
The announcement was made in Naples, Florida, on Wednesday.
This year's class:
Davis, a ground-breaking writer for Car and Driver, founded Automobile magazine in 1985. He helped redefine automotive journalism by blending technical insights with cultural and emotional perspectives on driving.
With more than 50 years in the industry, Davis became a mentor to young writers and set the standard for automotive journalism today.
He died in 2011 at the age of 80.
With three F1 World Championships, 41 wins and 65 pole positions, Senna is one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all-time.
The Brazilian great died at the age of 34 in a crash at the San Marina Grand Prix at the famed Imola circuit in Italy.
His legacy carries on through the Ayrton Senna Institute, which has been working for 30 years to improve public education and create opportunities for underprivileged children in Brazil.
Skelton, who died in 2011, was a pioneer in both the fields of aviation and in automobiles and came to be known as the "First Lady of Firsts. And for good reason.
Skelton was an acrobatic airplane pilot, Chevrolet Corvette test driver and daredevil speed racer. In 1954, NASCAR head Bill France Sr. invited Skelton to drive a pace car on Daytona Beach, where she set a women's record of 105 mph for stock-car speed on the beach.
In 1956, Skelton joined General Motors' advertising partner, Campbell-Ewald, and became the first woman technical narrator at major auto shows. She soon began test-driving Corvettes. She also helped launch the magazine Corvette News (later called Corvette Quarterly).
The first woman to drive an Indy car, Skelton also set land-speed marks at Bonneville Salt Flats and set a transcontinental speed record in 1956 from New York to Los Angeles when she covered the 2,913 miles in 56 hours and 58 minutes.
Industry exectutive Dieter Zetsche is renowned for his transformative leadership that emphasized innovation, sustainability, and global expansion.
Under his guidance, Daimler launched initiatives, including the Smart car and the EQ electric vehicle brand, solidifying its position as a leader in sustainable mobility. Zetsche's strategic focus on digitalization, connectivity, and autonomous driving propelled Daimler into the future.
His visionary approach and charismatic leadership left a lasting impact on Daimler and the broader automotive industry.
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