Kovalainen gets Renault test role

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.