[edit] Pre-Formula One

Coulthard's Formula 3000 car that he drove for Pacific Racing in the 1993 seasonCoulthard began karting at an early age. Allan McNish credited the start given to him, David Coulthard, and Dario Franchitti largely to David Leslie, senior and junior.[1]

Coulthard graduates to Formula Ford in 1989. He won the first ever McLaren/Autosport Young Driver of the Year award. In 1990, he suffered a broken leg at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, but came back the following year to win Formula Three races at Zandvoort, Netherlands and Macau, China. In 1992, he raced in the Formula 3000 series, finishing ninth, and in 1993 he improved to third overall.