Heikki Kovalainen's CV

A Renault Driver Development programme member since 2002, 24 year old Finn Heikki Kovalainen officially joined the Renault F1 Team as 3rd driver for the 2006 season. After participating in testing activities since 2004, He has completed nearly 20,000 km of running so far this year and has played an important role in the team’s championship challenge. His excellent technical feedback, positive team-oriented attitude and innate speed have brought him the reward he deserves: a race seat for the 2007 season.

Date of birth: 19/10/1981
Place of birth: Suomussalmi, Finland
Lives: Oxford, UK
Nationality: Finnish

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.

2006: Formula 1, Renault F1 Team Third Driver
As an official member of the Renault F1 Team, Heikki shouldered a large part of the development work for the 2006 championship campaign, alongside team-mates Alonso and Fisichella. He impressed the team with his technical feedback, rate of progress and natural speed at the wheel of the car, and has acquired a solid technical background in over more than 18,000 km in 2006. Having served his apprenticeship, he earned the unique opportunity to compete for a front-line F1 team in his first season of Grand Prix racing.

2007: Formula 1, Renault F1 Team Race Driver