OCTOBER 18, 2012

Coulthard to quit DTM

David Coulthard will drive his last DTM race in the season finale at Hockenheim this coming weekend (October 19-21), before concentrating more on his role as BBC F1 TV commentator/expert and his other personal and business interests. By Tony Dodgins (@TonyDodgins)

David Coulthard will drive his last DTM race in the season finale at Hockenheim this coming weekend (October 19-21), before concentrating more on his role as BBC F1 TV commentator/expert and his other personal and business interests.

Coulthard started his DTM career in 2010 after retiring from F1 at the end of 2008 with 13 victories from his 246 starts. He will remain part of the Mercedes Benz family as an AMG brand ambassador.

"I'm looking forward to the final race of what has been an exciting season in the DTM," Coulthard said. "This weekend will be my final opportunity to compete at this level before I stop racing in the DTM to concenrate on my developing off-track businesses and, of course, my family.

"I would like to thank Norbert Haug and his team at Mercedes Motorsport for providing the opportunity, Deutsche Post for their support and their willingness to allow the Wings For Life Foundation to have promotional space on the car, which has helped raise awareness and funding for the research into spinal cord injuries.

"Thank-you as well to the HWA and Mucke teams for patiently helping me with the transition from single-seaters to rouring cars."

Haug responded: "David is our first F1 winner of the modern era and that victory on 9 March 1997 in Melbourne ensures his place in our motorsport history. An abbreviation from the racing world best summarises what I want to say to David on behalf of everybody: TD (usually technical director)-- but this time, it stands for 'Thanks, David.'"