Heikki Kovalainen parts ways with IMG

When the former Caterham driver signed an agreement with the agency specialized in managing the careers of professional athletes, he took the opportunity to make a media statement suggesting that he might be tempted to look elsewhere if his employer did not make more progress: « I don’t have a long-term contract. I’ve kept my different options open because we need to see how the season goes. I’m much better than in my early seasons and I want to be back at the wheel of a top-tier car, fighting for points. As I said, I want to progress with Caterham. I’ve been here since the beginning and it’s great. Tony has also become a good friend, but he will remain a friend even if I’m no longer here. »

Until last September, he was at the center of the transfer market as some were sending him to Ferrari in place of a very disappointing Felipe Massa. However, the Brazilian managed a good second half of the season, which closed the doors of the Scuderia for him. At the same time, Olivier Panis managed to place his protégé Charles Pic in a team with a Renault engine, and Giedo van der Garde benefited from McGregor’s support to become a main driver.

This left Heikki Kovalainen out in the cold and without a race seat for the 2013 season. In these circumstances, he decided to take his fate into his own hands, as he confirmed to Adam Cooper: “I am no longer with IMG. I can confirm that, but I have agreed not to say more on the subject. I am working alone, but currently, I am not talking to anyone else. I am focused on my work with Caterham to help the team move forward.”

After a significantly slower start to the season compared to Marussia, Caterham recalled him to participate in two Friday morning practice sessions. This allowed him to evaluate the car as well as the 2013 tires with the aim of trying to secure a full-time race seat for the following season…

With the participation of www.Racingbusiness.fr