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Coulthard keen on Bathurst


Mark Webber's former team mate at Red Bull Racing, who was a regular race winner at McLaren, is turning to touring cars for 2010 and believes he needs a start at Mount Panorama to complete his racing career.

Coulthard is within a week of signing with Mercedes-Benz to compete in this year's German touring car championship and is also considering a move into V8 Supercars.  He says nothing is set but he believes he will be at Bathurst in the next couple of years.

"Bathurst is a legend of a race, so I would love to drive there," Coulthard tells Carsguide at the Bahrain Grand Prix.  "It would be nice, before I am too old, to do that. I have raced at Le Mans once and that's another one to do."

Coulthard says he has already had early contact with V8 Supercar teams, naming Kelly Racing and Paul Morris Motorsport.  "One of them was associated with Red Bull, the other with the Castrol team. That came via Mick Doohan," he says.

Morris Motorsport is also in talks with another retired F1 driver, world champion Jacques Villeneuve, and he says he would be keen to drive a V8 Supercar.  "That would be fun. Yes, I have had some talks," he says at Bahrain.  But Villeneuve is currently too costly, even with three potential starts - Phillip Island, Bathurst and the Gold Coast - available.

Coulthard has already had his first touring car test with Mercedes-Benz and will drive twice more in coming weeks. He believes he will be in a one-year-old C-Class racer in the 2010 DTM series.  "Yes, we are talking. But it's too early to say," says Mercedes' motorsport spokesman, Wolfgang Schattling.

Coulthard's only problem with a switch to tintops is the time, as he has huge commitments with the BBC as a grand prix broadcaster. This could also delay a Bathurst run.  "One of these days. They are legend races. To be there and have your name alongside the greats," he says.

"I've watched them on the telly. They are good meaty cars, and good drivers too. I would do it if I had the time."  Coulthard also cannot resist a swipe at Webber, who says he has no intention of ever racing a V8 Supercar.

"Maybe when Mark has retired from Formula One and is running his own team down there," he jokes.