Scots race ace waves farewell to fast life

HE FAMOUSLY declared that sex before a race made him go faster, but after a career which almost rivalled his personal life for high-octane pursuits, the chequered flag awaits David Coulthard.

The most successful British driver in the history of Formula 1 yesterday announced his intention to retire from the sport whose characteristics of thrill-seeking and glamour he has tirelessly perpetuated.

After 14 years behind the wheel of motorsport's most prestigious tier of competition, Coulthard, 37, will step away at the end of the current season.

In a statement released ahead of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, one of his favourite events and the scene of 13 F1 victories, the Kirkcudbrightshire native said his decision was influenced largely by his age. Already an elder statesman among young pretenders such as Lewis Hamilton, he is wary of overstaying his welcome.

"My decision to retire was taken earlier in the year and is based on a desire to stop while I am still competitive and enjoying the immense challenge that grand prix driving represents," he said.

Having insisted he was not hanging up his helmet for good, Coulthard said he would continue as a consultant to his current team, Red Bull Racing.

Nevertheless, the announcement, on the eve of his 237rd grand prix, heralds the end of a career and public life seldom short of controversy.

Square of jaw and thick of wallet, Coulthard came to embody the image of F1 drivers as highly competitive, jet-setting millionaires with an insatiable appetite for life in the fast lane.

His professional record has long been a subject to divide opinion. Murray Walker, the veteran motorsports commentator, said last night: "David is a wonderful personality. He's had a fantastic career – he's won 13 grands prix and he's come within an ace of winning the championship. The sadness is that he is going." He also counts Jackie Stewart among his fans.

It was, though, away from the racing circuits that Coulthard, originally from the small village of Twynholm, drew the most attention. As befits a young, rich sportsman with chiselled looks, he has enjoyed the company of some of the world's most beautiful women.

He has twice been engaged, first to Heidi Wichlinski, a blonde Texan heiress to whom he proposed on Millennium Eve, then to Simone Abdelnour, popping the question to the Brazilian supermodel on Christmas Day, 2003.

His former partners include the likes of Lady Victoria Hervey and Heidi Klum, the German supermodel. At times braggish, Coulthard has rarely sought to play down his appetite for the fairer sex.

For the past two years, though, has been engaged to Karen Minier, a Belgian Formula 1 correspondent for French TV channel TF1.

With a fortune estimated at £37 million, Coulthard resides in the tax-haven principality of Monaco and owns homes in London, Belgium and Switzerland.

IN QUOTES

"Sex before a race? Why not? Sex makes you faster."

"I haven't been world champion, but I did finish second to Michael Schumacher, who was the best driver in the sport's history."

"I've done things where women are concerned that I'm ashamed of now. But womanising goes with the territory."

"I was born into a good family in a wee corner of Scotland and have ended up travelling into every corner of the world, experiencing things I'd never have seen had I not been a racing driver."

"As far as I'm concerned, it's a question of genetics. You buy little boys a tractor to play with and little girls a doll. Try it the other way and it just doesn't work."