David Coulthard was born in Twynholm in 1971. His Grandfather took part in the Monte Carlo Rally and his Dad was Scottish National Kart Champion. Coulthard himself began karting aged eleven before moving up to single seaters in the Formula Ford Championship, to Formula 3 winning the prestigious Macau GP, Read more…
Jonathan Palmer’s first taste of Formula 1 was testing a Williams in 1982 and 1983 whilst competing in Formula 2. He was rewarded for his hard work in developing Williams’ FW08 and FW09 with a drive for Williams in the 1983 European Grand Prix at Brands Hatch – his F1 Read more…
Born in Nancy, France in 1948, Jean-Louis Schlesser grew up in Morocco before returning to France as a teenager to study. After joining the racing school at Le Mans, he began rallying before entering the French Formula 3 series in 1976 enjoying some success, tying with Alain Prost for the Read more…
Born in Hurth Germany in 1975, Ralf Schumacher, like his brother Michael, began karting at an early age when his father Rolf introduced him to the sport at the nearby Schumacher-family-owned Kerpen-Horrem kart track aged just three. By this time, older brother Michael – now nine – was competing at Read more…
Born in Monchengladbach in 1967 to a German father and a Spanish mother, Heinz-Harald Frentzen’s first introduction to motorsport was through his father Heinrich-Harald, a funeral director and part-time racing driver, who bought him his first go-kart at the age of twelve. Heinz-Harald was successful almost immediately, winning the 1981 Read more…
Ireland’s Derek Daly began racing in the Irish Formula Ford Championship before tackling the European Formula 2 Championship in 1977, where he finished fifth on his debut, and only F2 outing of the year, at Donington Park. A second season in F2 in 1978 started brightly with points finishes and Read more…
Born in occupied Paris in 1943, Jacques Laffite was privately educated at Cours Hattemer, Paris. His first foray into motorsport was in 1968 when, as 25-year-old, he became mechanic for then Formula 3 driver Jean-Pierre Jabouille (who would later become Laffite’s brother-in-law). Jabouille’s exploits inspired Laffite to give racing a go Read more…
Walloon Thierry Boutsen‘s single-seater career got off to a flying start with victory in the 1978 Formula Ford 1600 Championship taking 15 race wins from 18 en-route to the title before moving to European Formula 3. Runner up in the F3 title to future Ferrari F1 star Michele Alboreto at Read more…