Maria Teresa de Filippis, the first woman to compete in a world championship Formula One grand prix, has died at the age of 89. The Italian started three grand prix races in a privately entered Maserati 250F, finishing a best place of 10th at Spa-Francorchamps in 1958.

De Filippis was a founding member of the Maserati Club and also the honorary president of the former drivers’ association. The Former F1 driver Alexander Wurz paid tribute to De Filippis, writing on Twitter: “We lost another pioneering member of the Motorsport world today, Maria Teresa de Filippis, the first woman to race in F1. RIP”

The late Lella Lombardi is the only other woman to start a Formula 1 race, making the grid in 12 grands prix between 1974 and 1976. Britain’s Divina Galica, the South African Desire Wilson and the Italian Giovanna Amati have unsuccessfully tried to qualify for the races.