BA - The Club - Five unlikely epic drives: David Coulthard

Scotland

Recently, my wife and I did a road trip around Scotland, home to some of the world’s most beautiful roads. We started at the lovely Gleneagles Hotel before slowly making our way via various country houses right up to Thurso in the Highlands, and back down via the Isle of Skye. I was pleasantly surprised by how quiet it was up there, with very few people on the roads. It was also the perfect opportunity to experience one of Britain’s highest (and most gorgeous) roads: the Bealach na Bà.

Car of choice: A 1950s two-seater Mercedes Gullwing

Song: All of Me, John Legend

Photo: Getty Images

Monaco

Celebrity drives are always fun, especially the one that ended with Sean Connery complimenting my driving. Another was with Prince Albert II of Monaco, who I drove around the city on one amazing afternoon. I picked him up at the front of the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, then went around the city and the F1 track, before delivering him back to the palace. Compared with London, driving in Monaco is much quicker and easier, and on that day in particular there was such a lovely flow to the roads.

Car of choice: 1971 Mercedes Pagoda 280 SL

Song: No music, just great conversation

Photo: Getty Images

Brescia to Rome

There’s nothing like arriving in Rome on the evening before the Mille Miglia, Italy’s most famous open-road endurance race. I remember there was a perfect moment as we passed the Colosseum, lit up at night, on the way to the hotel. It was just amazing. If you’re arriving in a classic car, you can expect a warm welcome in the city – classic cars are everywhere. Once the race begins, those 1,000 miles offer up so many traditional Tuscan towns and villages – it’s almost a shame to whizz past them.

Car of choice: Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR

Song: Anything by Coldplay

Photo: Getty Images

Dubai

This might just be the shortest road trip you’ve ever heard of, but one of my most memorable ‘drives’ was doing donuts in an F1 car on the helipad on top of the Burj Al Arab in Dubai. The Burj Al Arab’s helipad is 689 feet high, so they had to get the car up there via helicopter. And this helipad is no stranger to memorable events; it’s where Roger Federer and Andre Agassi played their famous high-altitude match. As I got into the car, I remember thinking how incredible it was, with the spectacular landscape of Dubai on all sides.

Car of choice: Red Bull’s 750bhp F1 car

Song: Who Wants to Live Forever, Queen

Photo: Alamy

Swedish Lapland

Every winter, when the lakes freeze over in Arjeplog, Sweden, the 15-inch-thick ice is remodelled into some of the world’s most iconic race tracks. From Silverstone to the Nürburgring and various F1 circuits, they can recreate almost anything. Even though it was minus 30 degrees, it was a fantastic experience. Especially lovely was heading back to the cosy lodges, chatting with fellow enthusiasts and eating local Swedish delicacies.

Car of choice: Mercedes-AMG C63

Song: Ice Ice Baby, Vanilla Ice