BBC F1 pundit David Coulthard gave his fellow presenter Jake Humphrey a high octane introduction to Brands Hatch today (Monday 23 August), when he treated the TV anchorman to a flying lap of the Indy circuit in his DTM German Touring Car Championship car.
After hanging up his helmet at the end of his F1 career in 2008, Coulthard decided to return to racing this season with Mercedes in the DTM, and the Scotsman will be competing on home soil for the first time in two years at Brands Hatch next weekend (3/4/5 September).
However, ‘DC’ paid an early visit to Kent to introduce Humphrey to the delights of the undulating Indy circuit in a special two seater Mercedes, which the BBC F1 crew filmed for a feature that will be aired over the weekend as part of their Belgian Grand Prix coverage.
David Coulthard said: “I haven’t been to Brands Hatch since 1991, when I won two races in Formula 3. It’s strange coming back here, especially in a DTM car. I never imagined at that stage in my career all those years ago that I’d be racing at Brands Hatch in a touring car!
“Some circuits you have to drive with your fingertips and be super smooth, but with Brands Hatch you can really attack the corners. It’s a short lap and at Paddock Hill Bend you can’t quite see the apex. It’s a natural amphitheatre and there’s a lot of history in the racing; being here takes you back to the days of Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart.”
The flying lap certainly left a lasting impression on Coulthard’s willing passenger Jake Humphrey: “David was brilliant, it’s always a pleasure to be driven round by him and it gives you a newfound respect for what he does. If you’ve got a spare weekend on 5 September, come down to Brands Hatch and watch the DTM boys racing. The circuit is tight and I think there will be good bumper-to-bumper racing!”
Jake’s experience will be screened in full this weekend (28/29 August) as part of the BBC’s Belgian Formula One Grand Prix coverage.
| 
|