OCTOBER 18, 2004

Kovalainen wins Nissan title

Renault Development Driver Heikki Kovalainen wrapped up the Nissan World Series at the weekend in Valencia. The Pons Racing driver finished 10th and fifth in the two races at the Ricardo Tormo circuit but with his title rival Tiago Monteiro needing to win the two races the Finn took the title. India's Narain Karthikeyan won one event and Monteiro took the other.

"This is not the way I wanted to win it," said Kovalainen, "but it isn't over yet. I want to end the year with a win in the last race."

Karthikeyan, who is tipped to be moving to American racing in 2005, won the first race with a strong run from pole position, despite pressure from Jean-Cristophe Ravier (Epsilon Euskadi). Monteiro was fourth ahead of his Carlin Motorsport team mate Olivier Pla. Kovalainen started at the back and raced to 10th.

In the second race Monteiro overtook Karthikeyan during the pitstops to win the race.

The series has one last race in Jerez on November 7 but Kovalainen cannot now be caught. Monteiro is likely to finish second in the title race but there is a fight for third between Enrique Bernoldi and Ravier.