25 Jan 2009

Kovalainen has to wait to test new McLaren F1 car

12:07 pm on 25 January 2009

Finland's Formula One motor racing driver Heikki Kovalainen must wait until next month for a first taste of his new McLaren after bad weather wiped out the final day of testing in southern Portugal.

Kovalainen had been due to drive the new car at the Algarve circuit after world champion team mate Lewis Hamilton tested midweek.

However rain and fog grounded the medical helicopter and forced organisers to close the circuit in the interests of safety.

McLaren's next test is at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain in February and the Formula One season starts in Australia in late March.