In 2004 Kovalainen defeated David Coulthard and Jean Alesi, Michael Schumacher in the semi-finals and Sebastien Loeb in the final of event, grabbing the attention of the motor sports world with this amazing feat. He became a test driver for Formula 1 team Renault in 2006, and was promoted to the racing seat in 2007. He spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons with British team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes for whom he won the Hungarian GP in 2008. Currently driving for Lotus-Cosworth, the Finn is back in the game alongside Schumacher and Loeb and other great names from the motoring world, most notably quadruple F1 champion Alain Prost and multiple X-Games gold-medalist Travis Pastrana,
“The Race of Champions has a special place in my heart because beating Michael and Sebastien in 2004 really got me noticed in the world of motor sport. It was around that time that my road to Formula 1 really took off. Now we have had a great first year with Lotus. I always revel in the toughest competition – that's why I want to be part of ROC. If I come away with another result like that again this year you can bet I’ll be jumping back onto the roof of any car I can find,” said Kovalainen.
The Race of Champions takes place yearly at the end of every season since 1988, founded by IMP President Frederik Johnsson and the world's most successful female rally driver, Michèle Mouton. The first ROC was a competition between the world's best rally drivers, but has expanded to include top competitors from the world's premier motorsport disciplines, including motorcycle racing. This year's event will take place in Dusseldorf, on a tarmac circuit built especially for this occasion.
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