Grapevine: Kovalainen Beats F1 & Rally Stars in RoC

Young Heikki Kovalainen stopped his Ferrari 360 on the track, stepped outside and began jumping up and down, climbing on the roof of the red car while raising his hands triumpantly. He had just beaten seven times Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher at the Race of Champions.

The race against Schumacher was the highlight of a day for the 23-year-old Finn - a member of the Renault Driver Development programme and World Series by Nissan Champion this year. He won the title 'Champion of Champions' at the Stade de France, beating along the way Formula One veteran Jean Alesi, McLaren driver David Coulthard, and finally World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb, in the final of the event.

The race saw two pairs of drivers each contesting against each other in RoC cars (buggies), Rally cars and Ferrari 360 cars.

"I just can't believe it," exclaimed the Finn after the finish, "especially the fact that I beat rallying's World Champion in a WRC car. Amazing! And it's not every day you get a chance to beat Michael Schumacher. That was a big moment. I just tried to attack a little harder, brake a little later. And the atmosphere was great too!"

Earlier, Schumacher was able to beat Sauber driver Felipe Massa in the RoC car despite the Brazilian crossing the finish line first, as he received 10 seconds penalty for touching the barriers.

After the event, F1 Champion Schumacher held a showdown against Rally Champion Loeb, and the German beat the Frenchman in two of the three rounds - winning with the RoC and Ferrari cars, but losing in the Rally car.

The final event, the Nation's Cup, is taking place this evening.