MIKE MERRITT

Formula One drivers David Coulthard and Susie Wolff have teamed up to help raise more than £200,000 for a spinal injuries charity.

The Scottish stars evening gala at The Cord Club in London on Thursday, raising funds for Wings for Life, Spinal Cord Research Foundation.

"I met so many inspirational people and we managed to raise a staggering £210,000," said Wolff, a test driver for the Williams team who hails from Oban, Argyll and Bute.

"The generosity of everyone there was heart warming. Spinal cord injury happens in a moment and lasts a lifetime but progress is being made.

"All the money raised goes directly to research and clinical trials."

The driving forces behind Wings for Life are the two-time motocross world champion Heinz Kinigadner and the billionaire founder of Red Bull, Dietrich Mateschitz. In 2003, Kinigadner's son Hannes had a tragic accident which left him tetraplegic.

Wolff has taken another major step towards becoming the first woman to race a Formula One car in nearly 40 years.

She is to stay at the Williams team next season in an enhanced role as test driver.

The 31-year-old was development driver this year but her position has been be expanded this year to include two runs in Friday practice at Grand Prix and two tests.