DUBAI // Former Formula One driver David Coulthard dropped into Dubai yesterday, for a stunt unlike any other.
Perched 210 metres above the sea, on a helipad 24 metres wide, he performed “donuts” in Infiniti Red Bull Racing’s 750bhp F1 car.
The feat, at the Burj Al Arab, was to celebrate Red Bull Racing winning the Formula One Drivers’ and Constructors’ championship at the F1 Airtel Indian Grand Prix.
Seconds after stepping out of the car, Coulthard - who won 13 Grands Prix during his career - called the stunt “a lot of fun”.
“When Red Bull first suggested the idea to me I said ‘why not?’,” the Scot said. “I like getting involved with anything that pushes the boundaries and it’s what Red Bull stands for. I think this will produce fantastic, iconic shots in an amazing town, and I’m really privileged to be part of it.”
Red Bull Racing called the event the “Seven Star Spin”, and first posted images of the event on its Twitter feed yesterday but withheld any details about what was going on.
"From Tiger Woods hitting golf balls from the helipad to Andre Agassi and Roger Federer playing tennis on it, images of the Burj Al Arab have gone around the world, increasing awareness of Dubai and evoking a desire to visit," said Laila Mohammed Suhail, chief executive of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment.
“There could be no better way to both celebrate Red Bull’s recent win of the Formula One World Championship and look forward to the inaugural Dubai Motor Festival. Once again, images of one of Dubai’s most iconic landmarks will capture the imaginations of future visitors.”
Piers Schreiber, spokesperson for Jumeirah Group, said: “Burj Al Arab has hosted many extraordinary events on its helipad, but none as exhilarating as a Formula One car in full spin. Not only is the hotel the most photographed and the most talked about in the world, it will soon class as having the most filmed helipad as well.”
ksinclair@thenational.ae