Taru Rinne’s racing story began in karting. Born in Turku, she won two Finnish championships with Mika Häkkinen finishing second. She had imagined progressing through junior formula racing towards Formula 1, but her career took a different direction.
In 1988, Rinne finished 14th in the 125cc Grand Prix at Le Castellet, becoming the first woman to score world championship points. The following season brought 23 points and top-ten finishes at both Hockenheim and Assen.
Hockenheim offered a particularly clear measure of her pace: in 1989 she qualified second and finished seventh, her best world championship race result. In 2017, the FIM selected her as its woman motorcycling legend, recognising a career that opened a path for other women racers.