The McLaren driver Heikki Kovalainen has been given the green light to race in Sunday's Turkish grand prix. Kovalainen is fit to compete after passing an FIA medical held at the Istanbul Park circuit medical centre.
"Following a medical examination this morning by the FIA medical delegate, Professor Jean-Charles Piette, and the chief medical officer of the event, Dr Cem Boneval, Heikki Kovalainen has been cleared to race in the 2008 Turkish grand prix," read an FIA statement.
The 26-year-old Finn sustained nothing more than mild concussion after ploughing nose-first into a tyre barrier 11 days ago during the Spanish grand prix at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya. Kovalainen was immediately knocked unconscious by the force of the impact, sustained by a failure of the left-front wheel rim that led to an immediate deflation of the tyre.
It was later established Kovalainen was travelling at 150mph when the tyre deflated before hitting the tyre wall at 80mph. The rate of deceleration was measured at 27g, greater than the force of a pilot ejecting from a fighter jet.
Although Kovalainen passed a series of tests after being flown to a nearby hospital following the race, he also underwent an FIA medical examination - in accordance with standard practice - before being allowed to return to the cockpit of his car.
