Race and classic pictures

Not a flying Keke or Mika, but a Finn nevertheless

He wasn't a flying Keke or Mika, but he was a Finn and actually the second man from the Land of a Thousand Lakes to race in Formula 1 after Leo Kinnunen in 1974.

Mikko Kozarowitsky, who turns 76 on this day today, signed up with RAM March in 1977 for a stint in the European races but was bumped by the better-funded - and no less famous - Boy Hayje.

Nevertheless, Mikko went on to make his F1 debut at the Swedish Grand Prix.

Having never sat in an F1 car before, few were expecting fireworks, and the Finn indeed missed the cut.

He was offered another outing at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone a few weeks later, but crashed on his second exploratory lap, breaking his wrist.

Kozarowitzky sensibly called it a day, went home and was never seen again in F1.

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

Sainz samples new Madring: ‘You’ve created quite a cocktail’

The Spanish Grand Prix’s future home is still surrounded by construction barriers, deadlines and heavy…

16 hours ago

Ten years on: Marko reveals Horner resisted Verstappen promotion

Helmut Marko has revealed that Max Verstappen’s in-season promotion from Toro Rosso to Red Bull…

17 hours ago

Schumacher and Irvine paint the town red in Monaco

On this day in 1999 in Monaco, a dominant Michael Schumacher secured his 35th career…

19 hours ago

Rosenqvist finds 233 mph magic at Indy on Fast Friday

Sometimes at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, speed doesn’t build gradually – it arrives like it…

20 hours ago

McLaren powers up: Intel returns to F1 after 20-year hiatus

Nearly two decades after its last high-speed venture in Formula 1, American computing giant Intel…

21 hours ago

Verstappen admits to 'super tough' Nürburgring 24 Hours qualifying

Max Verstappen’s Nürburgring 24 Hours debut is already delivering the kind of storyline only he…

22 hours ago