Coulthard akatanga karting pazera ramakore gumi nerimwe uye akawana kubudirira kwekutanga asati afambira mberi kumakwikwi emotokari muBritish Formula Ford Championship neFormula 3000 series. Akatanga kutyaira muFormula One naWilliams mumwaka wa1994 achitevera mushakabvu Ayrton Senna. Gore rakatevera racho akahwina mubayiro wake wokutanga weGrand Prix muPortugal
, uye ipapo nokuda kwemwaka wa 1996 akatamira kuMcLaren. Mushure mekukunda mijaho miviri mumwaka wa1997, akapedza wechitatu muWorld Drivers 'Championship mumwaka wa1998.