F1 News - Kovalainen Eyes 2008 Champion Title19/12/2007

New McLaren driver Heikki Kovalainen believes that he can fight for the World Championship in his first year with the team.

Kovalainen is expected to have his first on-track outing for the team at Jerez on 14 January, where he will drive one of last year's Bridgestone-shod MP4-22s.

“Every driver has to enter into a race and a World Championship believing he can win it, so of course I do too," says 26-year-old Heikki, who replaces Fernando Alonso in the Woking-based team in 2008. "I will do everything I can to help the team move forward."

Kovalainen's multi-year deal was announced last Friday, making him the fourth Finn in history to race for McLaren. He follows in the footsteps of Keke Rosberg, Mika Hakkinen and Kimi Raikkonen, and he will partner Lewis Hamilton in the silver cars.

"McLaren has always been very popular in Finland," says Heikki, "because of both Mika and Kimi's involvement. It's a dream-come-true to join the team and I've been made to feel very welcome."

Heikki will partner Hamilton, the 2007 World Championship runner-up, and he is looking forward to the challenge of teaming up with his old karting adversary.

"Lewis is a quick driver," he says. "From what I've seen and have heard, he's a nice guy, but I will do everything I can to beat him and he will do the same with me. If he beats me I will just go home, work, and try to come back stronger the following weekend."