Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard has opened up about the perilous nature of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, recalling a harrowing junior formula accident that resulted in a broken leg.
The 13-time Grand Prix winner highlighted the stark contrast between modern Formula 1 technology and the vehicles of the 1990s when navigating the legendary Belgian track.
During a recent episode of the Up To Speed podcast, Coulthard addressed whether the iconic Eau Rouge and Raidillon sequence was a simple “flat-out” corner during his era. “It was not an easy flat-out because we didn’t have the tarmac run-off at the top of the hill on the left-hand side,” Coulthard explained.
“We had to thread the needle on the tarmac, and if you made a mistake by going past the kerb, you ended up in the gravel or the grass, which often led to major accidents. You have to respect that corner; it is essentially a high-speed roller coaster.”
Coulthard recounted a violent incident from his early career while competing in the Formula Opel Lotus Euroseries. He explained that the soft suspension of those junior cars meant the immense compression at the base of Eau Rouge caused the chassis to bottom out, leading to a sudden loss of aerodynamic grip.
The view from the new grandstand at Eau Rouge
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
“I was spun around on the first lap by Kenny Brack,” Coulthard remembered. “I hit the left-hand barrier, drifted back in front of the field, and was T-boned by another car directly into the side of the chassis. The impact crushed the aluminum and broke my right leg.”
“I remember the field coming through the end of the first lap while I was standing on the grass outside my car. Gil de Ferran gave me a thumbs up to check if I was alright, and I just burst into tears because I knew the extent of the injury.”
“Because it was an F1 support race, I was taken to the medical center where the legendary F1 medical officer, Sid Watkins, attended to me. They had to cut my race suit off, and I happened to be wearing my lucky underpants, which were full of holes. My mother was brought into the medical room, and she was quite disappointed to see my state of dress,” Coulthard joked.
