Nononsensecapeesh wrote: ↑2 years ago
David Coulthard was linked to a move to the BTCC with the Mazda works team in 1994, he would have partnered Matt Neal with Matt's father Steve Neal running the team and Noel Edmonds sponsoring them. If that had worked out, who would have stood in for Ayrton Senna at Williams after his death at Imola?
Didnt DC drive a Vauxhall once in BTCC 1990? Well I know he did. Ive seen the video of him at Brands. That was well before his F1 days and when he was doing junior open wheelers. I know he wasnt impressed with BTCC.
Surely a move to BTCC in 1994 would have been a backward step given he was (and had been) doing F3000 for a couple of years, and Sports car appearances (ie Le Mans with TWR Jag) by then. He was also the Williams official Test driver at a time when the title meant something, in 1993 and was contracted for that role in 1994.
I know he has spoken of how awful BTCC cars were (or certainly the Vauxhall). I also recall him being thankfull he broke his legs which curtailed his having to endure the second Vauxhall outing he had signed for back in 1990..
Im sure his focus was by 1993/4 on F1 not BTCC. Its all very well sponsors / third parties / journos suggesting something but if the driver himself had no intention it was never more than idyllic fantasy, far less anything of substance. Sort of situation where someone says to a hungry journo we want to get DC and suddenly its in the press so voila it must be true. I
m sure it was never more than someone else's fantasy and not something DC would have remotely considered given where his career was already at, and his less than enjoyable previous BTCC experience a few years before.
I guess it all comes down to when does a link go from one sided fantasy to becoming something of substance something two sides involved have seen as worth a chat about. This 'link' I dont believe ever got that far.
Having said that I have seen a picture of DC in a Williams run Renault Laguna at some promo function at a time when he was firmly established in F1.
Edit: I found the Laguna thing... it was a swap day DC and Hill doing a Renault promo swap run with Menu and Hoy. DC commented after driving it how unatural and weird it felt to drive a race car "when your head is in front of your arse".
Also dont take my negative view of your suggestion personally! I just dont agree with the total validity for the reasons I mentioned. As I said it does not mean it was not in the press. Back to my when does a link become worthy / credible. When driver and team have both said lets take this further?
Welcome to the forum btw.