Kovalainen to test with Renault next week

The Finn has not yet had his 2008 deal with Renault confirmed, and there have been suggestions that he could be lined up to race alongside Lewis Hamilton next year if Fernando Alonso returns to the French car manufacturer.

Despite the uncertainty about Kovalainen's future, Renault are not compromising their efforts to get back to the front of the field in 2008 and have drafted in the Finn for next week's first test of the winter at the Circuit de Catalunya. Nelson Piquet. Jr will also be present as reserve driver.

Kovalainen is expected to remain at Renault if Alonso decides against moving to the team, and Kovalainen told autosport.com this week that all he was interested in for 2008 was a good chance at winning the championship.

"All I know is my position is very good now," he said. "I think I have several options, and many teams are interested in me, and that's the most important thing. I just have to make sure that we make the correct choice for next year or the next few years.

"Wherever we commit I would like to stay there for the next two or three years and try to win championships, try to win races.

"For me the most important thing is to have equal status with my teammate and be in a car that is as competitive as possible. I'm very confident that I will be racing next year, I just have to make the correct choice now."

Read the full interview with Heikki Kovalainen in this week's issue of autosport.com's journal.