F-1 legend due in Manila

For Scottish racing legend David Coulthard, time is of the essence. Whether he’s on the track trying to beat time or in the TV studio providing insightful time or traveling around the world making time, the 15-year Formula 1 driver likes to keep time with his personally-endorsed TW Steel watch.

Coulthard, 40, makes a rare appearance in Manila on Sept. 26 to talk about, you guessed it, time. He’s coming to promote TW Steel and inaugurate the Resorts World store, Le Temps, a high-end watch haven owned by Lucerne. There are plans to invite a motoring journalist to drive Coulthard around town during his visit with the writer chronicling a day in the life of a driver’s driver. 

It’ll be a hectic visit for Coulthard who’s flying in from attending the Singapore F-1 Night Race at 4 a.m. He’ll check in at the Marriott Hotel then will meet the press at a media conference late morning. Organizers are lining up motoring and lifestyle writers for one-on-one interviews in the afternoon. At 5 p.m., Coulthard will be at the TW Steel boutique store at The Podium Mall, Ortigas Center, in a meet-and-greet affair where hundreds of fans are expected. While the Podium event is open to the public, fans are encouraged to register ahead of time – it’s that word again – so the early-birds are assured of access to Coulthard. It’s not often that an F-1 driver comes to town and TW Steel hopes to make good use of his time. 

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For Coulthard, time is all about precision. That was his trademark as an F-1 driver who is credited with a total of 13 wins, 62 podium finishes and 12 pole positions in his career. He ranks eighth in the F-1 honor roll with an all-time career total of 535 points.

Coulthard got his baptism of fire as a driver in karting, the usual entry point for hopefuls. When he turned 18, the Scotsman moved to Formula Ford and won the Young Driver of the Year award in 1989. The next year, he suffered a broken leg but managed to return to win three Formula Three races in 1991. A year later, he competed in the Formula 3000 series, the springboard to the ultimate F-1 circuit. Coulthard finished fifth in his first year and third in his second. 

In 1994, Coulthard was employed as a tester with the Williams team when Ayrton Senna died in a tragic accident. Senna’s loss opened up a spot for Coulthard on the Williams team and he joined Damon Hill in his F-1 debut at the Spanish Grand Prix. Coulthard drove Williams’ second car most of the season and stepped aside only for former champion Nigel Mansell in four legs. He won his first race in Portugal and took five pole positions the next year. Then, Coulthard moved to McLaren-Mercedes where he spent eight years culminating in a second overall finish in the world championships in 2001. He went on to drive for Red Bull and retired from F-1 racing in 2008. Coulthard continued to work with Red Bull as a tester for two years after his retirement.

Although Coulthard is no longer burning the F-1 tracks, he’s still involved with racing. He does F-1 TV coverage for BBC and last year, competed in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters where he wound up 16th. Coulthard continues to stay active as a driver in the German-based DTM Series with Team Mucke Motorsport.

Now living in Monaco where he owns a hotel, Coulthard is TW Steel’s prime endorser. TW Steel is a Dutch watch brand specializing in oversized timepieces. The all-new TW Steel David Coulthard Special Edition watch was recently introduced in the market with the driver proclaiming “This is my time.” The watch was launched in Monaco with Coulthard presenting the first models to make up the new CEO Tech Collection. Aside from being a Monaco resident, the principality has a special place in Coulthard’s heart as he is a two-time Monaco Grand Prix winner.

The Coulthard Special Edition watches come in two executions – 44mm (CE4001) and 48mm (CE4002), each retailing for P44,000. According to a TW Steel release, the watch “reflects Coulthard’s passion for detail while offering a bold, sophisticated look which perfectly captures the luxurious associations that come from his involvement in one of the world’s most glamorous and appealing sports – motor racing.”

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Because of his obsession with time, Coulthard is a perfect endorser for TW Steel. “I’m thoroughly enjoying working with TW Steel as an ambassador so I guess it was only natural that the next step was to produce a watch together,” he said. “I think the end result is certainly one that maintains TW Steel’s bold appeal while it perfectly reflects my own appreciation for subtle yet distinctive styling. To launch it in Monaco was extra special given my successes there but it is also fitting considering this is an appealing, high-end watch.”

To generate even more interest in TW Steel, a raffle draw is scheduled at the TW Steel boutique store in the Podium Mall, 10 a.m., on Sept. 15. Eligible to participate in the raffle are those who buy a TW Steel watch, excluding certain models, in a single receipt charged to MasterCard branded debit or credit cards issued by a Philippine designated bank. One raffle stub will be given for each single receipt. The promotion started last July 29 and ends Sept. 11.

There will be one grand prize and five consolation prize winners. The grand prize package consists of exclusive VIP hospitality access to the Lotus Renault paddock at the Singapore Grand Prix, one round-trip airfare ticket to Singapore via Singapore Airlines and hotel accommodations in Singapore on Sept. 23-26. It will also include watching the Singapore Night Race at the VIP paddock hospitality suite, fine dining treats and team driver or senior management interviews and autograph sessions. The consolation prizes are five TW Steel Lotus Renault Grand Prix watches. A participant may only win once and if a name is drawn more than once, the higher prize will be given.