Nikki Douthwaite
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DAVID COULTHARD
F1 Racing Magazine Articles on wood
Size 244cm by 165cm
Completed November 2009

These days when I watch the Formula One, my loyalties are quite split. I have grown over the years to love pretty much most of the grid. However there was a time when my heart belonged to one team, and one team only: McLaren.

Ron Dennis, Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard were quite simply my heroes, and everyone else were the enemy. In that team I had a favourite, and that was DC. My passions at this point in my life were so strong that I quite often got myself in trouble (not intentionally) by shouting out obscenities at the screen, especially when watching abroad. On one occasion I was in the Canary Islands watching the French Grand Prix in a German bar, looking like a McLaren threw up on me (hat and t shirt in 37 degree heat), when DC was being held up by a certain German driver, and finally passed him flicking him the finger and displaying other hand gestures. I jumped up, shouting "Go on DC!", and then a mouth full of not so pleasant insults at the certain German driver. Needless to say, my poor sister and friend had to pull me out of that bar rather sharply, before I got pounced on!

The first time I actually got to attend a Grand Prix was for my 30th birthday, as a present from a friend. I went to Spa in 2004, so excited to see the cars for real and watch DC race in his last season for McLaren, as it had already been announced that Montoya would take his place the next season (yeah, that was a great hire there Uncle Ron). DC crashed his car right in front of me (how rude!), so at least I got to climb over the huge fence and collect a little piece of his car!

Anyway, DC should have won a world title; he's the current highest British point scorer (although probably not for long), he has a brilliant mind, and a great sense of humour. He's a great driver, who never should have been the "almost guy". 'Bad luck' was his middle name for many years, and for many years I suffered and celebrated with his wins and misfortunes. The guy who was British when he won, and Scottish when he lost. The guy that will always remain one of my favourite drivers, and for me, has become the highlight of the BBC F1 coverage.

DC, I Salute you.

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