THERE IS A LITTLE MISTAKE:
2001-2002: F3
2003-2004: World Series by Nissan
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A tribute to Heikki Kovalainen, a finnish Formula 1 driver. Heikki got his first podium at 2007 Japanese GP in Fuji Speedway after a rainy race.
Heikki Kovalainen is a racing driver, born October 19, 1981 in Suomussalmi, Finland. He is the second race driver for Formula 1 world champions Renault having occupied the role of third driver since 2005.
Kovalainen's career began in karting, much like that of many other F1 racers. His karting career lasted from 1991 to 2000, during which time he finished runner-up in Finnish Formula A in 1999. Then in 2000 he became Nordic champion and won the Elf Masters. He was also elected Finnish Driver of The Year.
Formula Renault
Kovalainen began his car racing career in the British Formula Renault championship, which fellow Finn Kimi Räikkönen had won the previous year before moving straight into Formula 1 with Sauber. Kovalainen's apprenticeship in the junior categories of motor sport was more conventional, but was remarkable in that he used Renault power at every step along the way.[1]
He finished fourth in the championship with two wins, two pole positions and three fastest laps, and earned the Rookie of the Year award.
Formula 3
Kovalainen attracted the support of the Renault Driver Development programme and in 2002 moved up to the British F3 series with Fortec, who used Renault engines. He became one of the most competitive drivers on the grid by the second half of the season and all five of his wins came in the final nine races. With three pole positions, three fastest laps and third overall in the championship behind Robbie Kerr and James Courtney[1] he was again Rookie of the Year.
He also demonstrated strong form in the international F3 rounds, with second place at the Macau Grand Prix and fourth place at the Zandvoort Marlboro Masters.
World Series by Nissan
Kovalainen moved into the Renault-owned World Series by Nissan in 2003 - but faced a tough team mate at the Gabord team in Franck Montagny. Montagny had already spent two seasons in the World Series by Nissan and won the title in 2001.[1] Montagny won the title with nine wins to Kovalainen's one.
The Finn stayed in World Series by Nissan for 2004 but moved to the Pons team and won the championship ahead of Tiago Monteiro, with 192 points and six wins.
GP2 Series
In 2005, Kovalainen entered the GP2 Series, the new 'feeder' series for F1 and the successor to Formula 3000. Kovalainen won the first ever round of the new championship and led the championship with the Arden International team. But in the final four rounds a resurgent Nico Rosberg took over the lead of the championship and Kovalainen finished second, 15 points adrift.
Formula 1
Kovalainen made his race debut in Australian GP 2007. His performance was a huge disappointment; he made several mistakes during the race and finished 10th. Flavio Briatore told the press after the race that it was a disappointing debut for the young Finn. He scored his first World Championship point in his second Grand Prix at Sepang, Malaysia and finished in the points again in both North American races. Since then his performance has improved and he has outperformed Fisichella in every race except the French Grand Prix where he was hit by Jarno Trulli on the first lap. In the Japanese GP 2007, he finished on the podium for the first time in his F1 career.
Tags: Kovalainen Heikki tribute podium podio japan fuji speedway 2008 F1 finland renault IGN hamilton alonso raikkonen massa
![Heikki Kovalainen tribute [ 2001 - 2007 Japanese GP podium ]](http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/LmEA0myeP78/default.jpg)
