COULTHARD: MY TORMENT
Red Bull driver recalls tragedy that changed his life
DAVID COULTHARD brings an end to his 15-year Formula One career in Brazil today admitting the defining moment came OFF the track.
The Scot calls it quits after 246 races having racked up 13 wins and more points, 535, than any other British driver.
But his life could have ended in 2000 in a light plane crash in France that killed both pilots.
Coulthard, 37, said: “The plane crash really stopped me in my tracks.
“I remember getting home to Monaco and laying down in bed and literally thinking ‘F***!’ That was the moment I realised that that could have been it.
“It made me appreciate my life and that one day I’d get older, the grey hair would push through and the belly start to come.
“I realised I was doing this dangerous sport and earning millions, but hadn’t even made a will. I’d always thought I’d do that at 50.”
Coulthard thought his career had ended in 2004 when released by McLaren, but was handed a lifeline by Red Bull.
The Twynholm-born racer, who also drove for Williams, added: “I went to see Flavio Briatore, Jean Todt and Frank Williams just from a testing point of view as I knew they weren’t going to give me a drive.
Expand
“I just wanted to stay involved. I can go on my own terms now and I know that it is the right time.
“This extra time enabled me to expand beyond just being a driver and to realise there are other influences you can bring in to play.”
Coulthard said it hit home it was his last race when he said goodbye to his pregnant fiancée, stunning Belgian TV presenter Karen Minier, to make the trip to Brazil.
He said: “Karen took me to the airport as normal. It was only when I was just about to get into the car that I realised that I’d be leaving a grand prix driver, for what that’s worth, and I'd be coming back as ex-driver, Joe Bloggs.”
Coulthard, who will commentate for BBC next year, added: “I still love motorsport. Maybe I will go and do something that’s fun and where the extra milliseconds are not that important.
“I wasn't a big drinker when I was younger but as I've become older I now like a nice glass of red wine with my dinner. The same with whisky.”
This article has 2 comments
Well done David, I've always admired your style. Best wishes for the future.
By Andy James. Posted November 3 2008 at 8:24 AM.
For me DC is a super star. He stepped into the breach wthen the late Senna died, not an easy thing to do. I wish DC all the best in the future, hopefully at the wheel of some kind of racing.
By Rob Burns. Posted November 2 2008 at 8:33 AM.