Heikki Kovalainen began his karting career in 1998, at age eleven. He was Finnish national champion in 2002. He finished 3rd in the World Cadet Championship for Karting in 2003. By the end of 2004 he had won 6 national titles, 6 Finnish championships and 6 European Championships
He finished 3rd in the 2005 Formula Renault 2.0 Junior Winter Series, 2nd in the 2005 Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup and 3rd in the 2005 Formula Renault 2.0 Nordic Championship. In 2006 he won his first national championship, two more European races and finished 4th in the Macau Grand Prix. At his first full-time season in 2007 he won three major titles, including both drivers' championships of the World Series by Renault. Heikki has signed a contract with McLaren to race for them in 2008, making him the youngest ever driver to race for McLaren at their return to Formula 1 after a 21-year absence. Heikki is currently studying Business Administration at Laine University of Technology's School of Business and Economics (LUT).
When I started go-karting at the age of six, I always dreamt of becoming a Formula One driver.Heikki Kovalainen
I am quite a relaxed person out of the car, but in the car I am aggressive, I never give up, I fight to the end and I try 100% all the time.Heikki Kovalainen
Nothing's ever too fast. Maybe sometimes on the road some people are too fast if they don't know how to control the car, but in racing, the faster and more power and grip, the better it is.Heikki Kovalainen
