Kovalainen gets Renault test role

30 November -0001

0Comments | Comment on this Article

Flavio Briatore has confirmed rising Finnish star Heikki Kovalainen will be Renault's test driver next season.

Kovalainen is from Renault's driver development programme and, after a glittering career in junior racing, is considered a star of the future, with the likelyhood of getting a race seat in 2007.

Renault boss Briatore has reportedly taken a keen interset in Kavalainem since bringing him onto the team's development programme, and has overseen the grooming of the 24-year-old.

Kovalainen will be Renault's test driver following the same path in the development programme that current world champion Fernando Alonso took.

Kovalainen had previously been linked to BMW-Sauber, as reports that they were unlikely to honour their contract with Jacques Villeneuve.

Renault boss Briatore has been quoted as saying in 2007 he was sure Heikki would be on the Formula One grid although whether as in a Renault or with another team was a question as yet unanswered.

Kovalainen takes over from Franck Montagny as Renault's tester after the Frenchman was released.

The Renault F1 Team is now preparing its next test session that will take place in Barcelona from November 30 to December 2, 2005. Instead of developing a hybrid car, the Renault F1 Team has decided to be pragmatic and to take benefits from its 2005 success.

The team have taken a pragmatic decision not to run an interim car, based on the potential return on investment involved in this type of project.

Running will begin with a 'restricted' V10 to simulate predicted power levels for next year in order to allow tyre testing that will be essential for the 2006 season owing to the new regulations.

0Comments | Be the first to comment!