1995 Formula 1 
Teams
David Marshall Coulthard
By Jeremy McMullen
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From the hotels, to the supermodel girlfriends, to the yachts, to the tough competitive driving on the race track David Coulthard could not be any more of a throwback to the wild days of the 1960s when hard racing would be followed-up with hard living. But just like the era in which he would drive, his life as a grand prix racer would have a modern twist to it. Like so many grand prix stars, David Marshall Coulthard's beginnings start well away from the blue waters of the Mediterranean. In 1971, on the 27th of March, David Coulthard would be born in Dumfries, Scotland to Joyce and Duncan Coulthard.Living in the nearby village of Twynholm, David would be exposed to automobiles from the very first moments of his life. In 1916 Peter Coulthard established a haulage company named after his eldest son. Hayton Coulthard would start out quite small with just a motorbike and a sidecar as the first business vehicle. Not despising the day of small beginnings, the company would continue to grow. However, Hayton would not be interested in the company and would go into farming instead. Hayton's brother, Jimmy, would take over the business and would expand it. Soon, the company would form another division known as Dunmhor Transport. This was so named after Jimmy's two children Duncan and Morag.In 1959 Jimmy would die leaving Duncan to quit school to help run the business alongside of his mother. Duncan was just 14 at the time. By 1967, Duncan was running the company full-time. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s the company would thrive. The wealth from the business provided Duncan's soon-to-be eleven year old son with an opportunity. By the time David was ten years old the turbocharged era in Formula One was in full-swing. And being around the trucking business all his life gave him the desire to go into racing. David would actually drive karts very early on in his life. But when he was permitted, at the age of 11, DC would enter karting on a competitive basis. Duncan would lend his full support to his son's decision and would use the finances afforded him from his haulage company to fund David's pursuit. Duncan would purchase David's equipment and would pay the costs associated with going racing each and every weekend. Father's investment would begin paying off rather quickly. Within a half a dozen years David was winning local championships and longed for even better competition. This would lead to him heading south.
David would follow up the Cumbria Kart Racing Club championship by winning the Scottish Open Kart Championship 1986. In that same year, Coulthard would become the British Super Kart 1 Champion as well. He would repeat as the Scottish Open Kart Champion in 1987 and again in 1988 while he would again be the British Super Kart 1 Champion in 1987. After just a few short years of driving karts Coulthard would rise into the ranks of Formula Ford racing. In 1989, his first year in Formula Ford, David would win the Dunlop/Autosport Championship and the P&O Ferries Junior Championship. This would earn him the very first, and prestigious, McLaren/Autosport Young Driver of the Year Award.
Just as Coulthard's career was really beginning to takeoff he would come crashing back down to earth. In 1990, while racing at the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit, David would suffer a terrible crash that would end with him breaking his legs. This would bring about the end of his season. But just when his career seemed to come to a momentary halt McLaren would come calling. By the end of the year, Coulthard would complete a test for the Formula One giant. Over the next three years Coulthard would experience a number of memorable moments including winning the Marlboro Masters at Zandvoort and the Macau Grand Prix in 1991. Then, in 1992, Coulthard would make the move to Formula 3000. The following year, David would finish 3rd in the Formula 3000 championship.The same year in which Coulthard would finish 3rd in Formula 3000, he would earn the role of test driver for a Formula One team. He could not have joined a more powerful team when he came to Williams-Renault in 1993. Nigel Mansell had taken the title in 1992 with one of the most advanced cars ever seen in Formula One. The dominance would continue in Coulthard's first year with the team as Alain Prost would earn yet another World Championship. Often overlooked, Coulthard would take part in another very important race in 1993. The name Tom Walkinshaw and Le Mans are about as synonymous as grand prix racing and Monaco. And in 1993, David would partner with John Nielsen and David Brabham in driving a Jaguar XJ220 C in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Arrayed in a dark green and blue livery, the Jaguar would start the race 22nd on the grid and would come in some 69 laps behind the winner. However, the car would be disqualified for having an illegal exhaust. This would bring about the end to Coulthard's Le Mans career, at least to date. The 1994 season would see Coulthard and the Williams-Renault team suffer great tragedy and become the center of a great hailstorm of worldwide accusation and vilifying. Ayrton Senna's death at Imola in May would cap-off perhaps the darkest weekend in Formula One history and it would cause Williams to be placed in the crosshairs of a very angry and mourning public. Despite being in just his second year with the team, Coulthard would find himself right in the middle of everything performing demonstrations and adding his professional opinion to help explain the reason for the World Champion's death.
Teams David Marshall CoulthardRaces: 247
Podiums: 62
Career Points: 535
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From the hotels, to the supermodel girlfriends, to the yachts, to the tough competitive driving on the race track David Coulthard could not be any more of a throwback to the wild days of the 1960s when hard racing would be followed-up with hard living. But just like the era in which he would drive, his life as a grand prix racer would have a modern twist to it. Like so many grand prix stars, David Marshall Coulthard's beginnings start well away from the blue waters of the Mediterranean. In 1971, on the 27th of March, David Coulthard would be born in Dumfries, Scotland to Joyce and Duncan Coulthard.Living in the nearby village of Twynholm, David would be exposed to automobiles from the very first moments of his life. In 1916 Peter Coulthard established a haulage company named after his eldest son. Hayton Coulthard would start out quite small with just a motorbike and a sidecar as the first business vehicle. Not despising the day of small beginnings, the company would continue to grow. However, Hayton would not be interested in the company and would go into farming instead. Hayton's brother, Jimmy, would take over the business and would expand it. Soon, the company would form another division known as Dunmhor Transport. This was so named after Jimmy's two children Duncan and Morag.In 1959 Jimmy would die leaving Duncan to quit school to help run the business alongside of his mother. Duncan was just 14 at the time. By 1967, Duncan was running the company full-time. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s the company would thrive. The wealth from the business provided Duncan's soon-to-be eleven year old son with an opportunity. By the time David was ten years old the turbocharged era in Formula One was in full-swing. And being around the trucking business all his life gave him the desire to go into racing. David would actually drive karts very early on in his life. But when he was permitted, at the age of 11, DC would enter karting on a competitive basis. Duncan would lend his full support to his son's decision and would use the finances afforded him from his haulage company to fund David's pursuit. Duncan would purchase David's equipment and would pay the costs associated with going racing each and every weekend. Father's investment would begin paying off rather quickly. Within a half a dozen years David was winning local championships and longed for even better competition. This would lead to him heading south.
| In 1985 David would win the Cumbria Kart Racing Club championship and would be poised to enter larger formulas. It would be during this time that Coulthard would meet and befriend fellow Scot Allan McNish. |
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