Heikki Kovalainen Profile
By Sam Cooper
March 23 2007
Heikki Kovalainen
| Nationality | Finish |
| Car No | 23 |
| Date of birth | 19/10/1981 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Height | 1.72m |
| Weight | 66Kg |
| Place of Birth | Suomussalmi, Finland |
| Likes | Pasta, sport, girls, fast cars |
Bio from the Renault press office
A Renault Driver Development programme member since 2002, 25 year old Finn Heikki Kovalainen will make his race debut at the pinnacle of motorsport in 2007. After completing more than 25,000 km of testing last year, and having learned his craft alongside Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella, Heikki is now ready to take the final step – and to confirm the potential to succeed identified by the Renault F1 Team. He is looking to seize the rare opportunity of completing his rookie season in the world champion team, and approaches the new season calm and focused. A born fighter, Heikki will use his determination and talent to good effect during is first season among motor racing’s elite.
1991 - 2000: Karting
Karting was where Heikki cut his teeth. He soon made a name for himself on the national and international stage. After finishing runner-up in the Finnish Formula A championship in 1999 and 2000, while becoming Scandinavian Champion and winning the Elf Masters at Bercy in the Millennium year, Heikki was identified as a rising talent in the sport. He was elected driver of the year in Finland in 2000.
2001: Formula Renault – British Championship
Heikki’s first season in cars came in the highly competitive British Formula Renault championship. He was soon spotted as he learned the ropes. A fourth-place championship finish saw him take Rookie of the Year, with 2 wins, 2 poles and 3 fastest laps.
2002: Formula 3
Competing in British F3, Heikki took third in the championship on his debut season in this prestigious championship. 5 wins, 3 poles and 3 fastest laps once again made him Rookie of the Year. He also demonstrated strong form in the international rounds, with second place in Macao and fourth place at the Zandvoort Marlboro Masters. The Finn demonstrated potential and adaptability throughout the year.
2003 – 2004: World Series by Nissan
Heikki’s approach to the new championship was simple: a year to learn, and win the following season. Having finished second on his debut year in 2003, the Finn took the title with the Pons team in 2004. He also had his first F1 test, and began learning about the demands of driving an F1 car.
2005: GP2 series
In the debut season of GP2, the new feeder series for F1, the championship attracted a strong field of young drivers determined to make their mark. Heikki aimed to build a championship challenge with the ARDEN team. A strong start to the year saw him take wins in the opening rounds with relative ease. As the competition intensified, Heikki lost out to Nico Rosberg in the final standings, but Heikki had amply demonstrated his abilities. He is now ready to fulfil the role of test driver with the Renault F1 Team.
2006: Formula 1, Third driver, Renault F1 Team
As a fully-fledged member of the Renault F1 Team, Heikki shouldered a large part of the development workload during the crucial 2006 season, alongside team-mates Alonso and Fisichella. He impressed the team with his technical feedback, rate of progress and his natural speed in the car. After covering over 25,000 km in 2006 – at more than twenty different test sessions – the Finn has a solid technical background, and the quality of his work earned him the opportunity to make his Grand Prix debut with the world champions in 2007. He is determined to prove his abilities, beginning with the first race in Melbourne…
2007: Formula 1, Renault F1 Team race driver
2008: Formula 1, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes race driver.