Kovalainen 'likely' to race for Renault

GP2 front-runner Kovalainen will be Renault's test driver next season after Briatore could not reach an agreement with BMW for a loan deal for the Finn to race at Sauber. BMW had wanted Kovalainen for two years, but Briatore only wanted to release him for a single season.

Briatore's insistence on keeping first-call on Kovalainen's services for 2007 is because he believes the Finn is a virtual shoe-in for a race drive at Renault then, where he would likely line-up alongside Fernando Alonso, despite the World Champion's contract running out at the end of next season.

Speaking to Autosport, Briatore said: "'Kovy' is going to drive for Renault next year and be our test driver.

"We have invested a lot in him and he is an asset that we have to look after. We want him to drive 30-40 thousand kilometers next year to be ready to race in 2007.

"It is 90 percent likely that will be with Renault, and 10 percent with another team."

Renault chairman Patrick Faure told autosport.com this week that Kovalainen would definitely be part of the French manufacturer's future plans.

"He is going to be with us in the coming years because he is a good and experienced driver," said Faure. "He has done a very good GP2 season and only lost the title at the last race. I think he will also be a very talented driver in the future."

When asked whether Renault would likely loan him out to a rival team in the future, Faure said: "No. For the moment we are happy with Fernando and Giancarlo.

"We have only one target, which is to win the world title, and we have a duty, Flavio and me, to pick the best drivers with which to be World Champion. We didn't miss this year."