David Coulthard fined for speeding in Gumball 3000 rally

David Coulthard fronting a safe driving campaign. Picture: Contributed

According to local reports, the former F1 driver was clocked at 178kmh (around 110mph) on a motorway in the Alsace region, and narrowly avoided having his licence confiscated.

French motorways, or autoroutes tend to have speed limits of 130kmh (about 80mph).

The Twynholm-born driver - who has fronted road safety campaigns in Scotland - was among 15 competitors in the rally to be fined by French police for speeding.

Coulthard, who drove with McLaren, Red Bull and Williams during his F1 career, was the first driver to be caught by a speedtrap on the A4 autoroute between Paris and Strasbourg.

Coulthard was allowed to resume the rally after paying a fine of €135 (around £107).

A police spokesperson added: “David Coulthard was the first to be stopped. One kilometre per hour faster and he would have lost his licence.”

Two other cars were clocked at 192kmh (119mph) and 194kmh (121mph) respectively, with one reportedly being driven by a race organiser.

Participants in previous Gumball rallies have been fined and in some cases, had their licences confiscated for speeding.

Reservoir Dogs actor Michael Madsen quit the 2010 rally after his car was stopped for speeding by police in Belgium, while in 2007, rapper and TV host Xzibit was among seven drivers who lost their licences for exceeding the speed limit by more than 30mph.

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