Heikki Kovalainen is a Finnish racing driver currently competing in the Japan Rally Championship for Rally Team AICELLO. He is best known for his time in Formula One, where he raced from 2007 to 2013, driving for teams such as Renault, McLaren, Team Lotus, Caterham, and Lotus F1. Kovalainen’s standout moment in F1 came in 2008 when he achieved victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix, becoming the 100th driver to win a Formula One race.

Kovalainen began his racing career with support from the Renault Driver Development programme, which laid the foundation for his future successes. He won the World Series by Nissan championship and finished as runner-up in the GP2 Series, catching the attention of Formula One teams. Renault signed him as a full-time test driver in 2006, and he was promoted to a race seat in 2007, where he secured his first podium with a second-place finish at the Japanese Grand Prix.

In 2008, Kovalainen joined McLaren and partnered with Lewis Hamilton. His second season saw him achieve his first pole position at Silverstone and his memorable win in Hungary. Despite his impressive performances, he transitioned to the newly formed Team Lotus in 2010, which later became Caterham F1. Although he faced challenges with uncompetitive cars, Kovalainen earned respect for his consistency and skill.

After leaving Formula One, Kovalainen moved to Japan to compete in the Super GT series, where he found success, winning the championship in 2016 with Team SARD. His journey reflects a versatile and resilient spirit, as he adapts to various racing formats while continuing to pursue his passion for motorsport. Today, Kovalainen remains a prominent figure in racing, bridging the gap between Formula One and endurance competitions.