Remember when Sara Christian first broke NASCAR’s gender barrier in 1949? She sparked a revolution that kindles today through racers like Katherine Legge. This weekend at Phoenix Raceway, Legge writes her own chapter in motorsport history as she becomes the first woman to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series since Danica Patrick’s final Daytona 500 appearance in 2018. At 44, the British driver has spent decades shattering glass ceilings across multiple racing disciplines, all while keeping her personal life largely in the shadows of her professional achievements. As fans celebrate her landmark Cup Series debut, many wonder about the woman behind the wheel.

While Legge’s racing resume speaks volumes – from becoming North America’s first female open-wheel race winner to setting the fastest qualifying time by a woman at the Indianapolis 500 – her relationship status remains a subject of curiosity for many NASCAR followers.

Was Katherine Legge Ever Engaged?

Though Legge has never married, she did come close. In 2010, she began dating fellow racing driver Peter Terting, a German competitor who had raced in touring cars, DTM, and various open-wheel series in Europe. Their relationship united two racers who understood the demands and passion of motorsport, with both supporting each other’s careers during their time together.

Their engagement became public knowledge as Legge was working to establish herself in the IndyCar Series. In March 2012, Terting was spotted at Sebring International Raceway, watching from behind the pit wall as Legge completed her initial session in an IZOD IndyCar Series car for Lotus Dragon Racing. The scene captured a rare glimpse of her personal life intersecting with her professional pursuits.

“We said last year that we were going to push especially hard for her to get a ride in IndyCar this year, and I kept my contacts back in Europe with the Audi Volkswagen group,” Terting told reporters at Sebring that day. The 28-year-old German explained their relationship dynamic candidly: “I supported her, but we said whoever gets the better opportunity for 2012 the other one is following. We’re very happy that she’ll be driving here, but it means I couldn’t sign my contracts back in Germany for 2012.”

This revealing quote demonstrated their mutual commitment to supporting each other’s racing careers, with Terting even putting his own driving opportunities on hold to help Legge secure her IndyCar seat. As she completed 111 laps on the Sebring short course, preparing for the season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Terting watched with a knowing smile. “Finally now she could run,” he said afterwards. “There are so many things to do we’re just happy that the car is running. It’s a mental thing to just be in the car and drive.”

Despite this apparent harmony, the couple split later that same year after being together for over two years. Following their breakup, Terting reportedly began a relationship with German driver Carrie Schreiner, who is more than a decade younger than him. As for Legge, she has not publicly dated anyone since – or at least has kept any relationships entirely private.

Trending

1

Three Years After NASCAR Exit, Kurt Busch Announces 7-Word Devastation as He Eyes Cup Series Return

2

Stars Finally Align for Richard Petty’s Iconic $14.1 Billion Manufacturer to Make Their Return to NASCAR

3

Joey Logano Lets Out Major Inferiority to Kyle Larson, Blames NASCAR’s Controversial Brainchild for It

4

“It’s Gonna Drag Us Down”: Years After Misjudging Rick Hendrick’s Late Son, NASCAR Legend Left Emotional by Memories

5

Bubba Wallace & 23XI Leave NASCAR Fans Raving After Major Las Vegas Announcement

Katherine’s Lifelong Love for Racing

Perhaps it’s no surprise that Legge’s personal life takes a backseat to her racing career. Her love affair with motorsport began long before any romantic relationships, ignited when her father took her go-karting as a child.

“He bought me a cart that Christmas when I was nine. I loved it,” Legge once revealed in a Forbes interview. “It gave me a purpose in life and kept me out of trouble. It gave me a focus.”

That childhood Christmas gift sparked a lifelong dedication that has carried her through Formula 3, DTM, INDYCAR, IMSA, and now to the pinnacle of American stock car racing. When she takes the green flag at Phoenix this weekend in the No. 78 Chevrolet for Live Fast Motorsports, she’ll make history as just the 17th woman ever to compete in NASCAR’s premier series.

“Entering the NASCAR Cup Series is a dream come true,” Legge said about her upcoming debut. “Racing stock cars has been an incredibly fun and new challenge that’s given me a renewed sense of vigor for this sport.”

Her ambitions doesn’t stop there. Looking beyond Phoenix, Legge has made her broader NASCAR aspirations clear: “I want to do all of the things. I want to do the Daytona 500. I want to do the Coca-Cola 600. I want to do more NASCAR. I want to do more IndyCar. I want to do more sports cars.”

For Katherine Legge, the journey has always been about the racing – everything else, including marriage, seems to be taking a backseat to her first love: the pursuit of speed and competition at the highest levels of motorsport.