Mikko Kozarowitsky

17/5/1948

Record updated 10-Mar-08

Mikko Kozarowitsky
Mikko Kozarowitzky was from Helsinki and represented Finland in the Davis Cup in 1966. His father had raced in the 1950s and Mikko followed in his footstes in 1968 in Finnish Formula Vee. Racing against Keke Rosberg he was a talented driver.

In 1970 he moved up to Scandinavia and European Formula 3 driving a Titan Mk 3 Nova engine. Racing against the likes of Lauda, Hunt and Purley, he finished 3rd at Brno, 4th at the Österreichring and 2nd at Keimola.

In 1971, he returned to Formula Super Vee racing in the European Gold Cup driving a Veemax. He had a modest season interupted when he was called up for military service.

In 1972 with his National Service out of the way he returned to the European Super Vee Gold Cup finishing 14th in the championship.

He didn't race at all in 1973 and only once in 1974 in the Super Vee Gold Cup in a Lola T320 turning in a DNF.

In 1975 he drove a Lola T324 in Formula Super Vee again. Now with a proper budget he drove for Günther Schmidt's ATS team. At the Nürburgring Betonschleife, he finished 2nd behind Rosberg, setting a new lap record in the process. He then finished 2nds at Aspern and Sembach, before taking his first win at the Salzburgring. The next round at Nurburgring saw Mikko set another lap record on his way to 2nd place. At Anderstorp, Rosberg was disqualified giving Mikko his secong vistory. He then came 3rd at the Norisring, followed by wins at the Nurburgring and Diepholz. Second at the Nurburgring and again at the Osterreichring, he then finished 3rd at Silverstone behind Rosberg and Eje Elgh. Another win at Zolder befor the final race at Hockenheim which saw him on the podium again in 2nd.

In a great year in Super Vee, he won the Gold Cup title, finished second in the Castrol GTX championship and second in the German championship.

He also went to the United States that year to compete in a round of the US Formula Super Vee championship at Daytona. Finishing a creditable 4th in a Lola T324 entered by Fred Opert.

In 1976 he moved up to European Formula 2 with ATS. Driving an uncompetitive Lola T450 BMW, he was stuck at the back of the field. After failing to qualify at Vallelunga. Mikko left ATS and joined Ron Dennis' Project Four Racing. Driving a March 752 Hart, Mikko endured more of the same, failing to qualify at Rouen by over 3 seconds. At Mugello he came 17th and at Enna he finished 11th in the first heat, but DNF'd in the second. Mikko deceided not to race in the last three rounds.

Early 1977 saw Mikko head to New Zealand to drive for Fred Opert with Rosberg as his team-mate to compete in the Peter Stuyvesant Formula Pacific Series. Driving a Chevron B34 Ford, he retired with a misfire at Bay Park. In the NZ Grand Prix he again retired with a misfire after qualifying on pole. the next round at Manfeild he had to stop and change a wheel that was damaged when he hit a kerb and ended up 8th. At 2nd at Teretonga behind Rosberg and a 3rd in the Lady Wigram Trophy saw him end the series in fourth place, equal on points with John Nicholson, of Nicholson McLaren engines. Rosberg won with 33 points.

On returning to Europe, his long-time sponsor Marlboro wanted a Finn in Formula 1. Rosberg was tied up with F2 so Kozarowitzky got the nod. Though he was scheduled to drive all the European races for John Macdonald, it was Boy Hayje who began the season with RAM's single entry.

RAM were in need of additional funding and entered a second car for the Swedish Grand Prix. Kozarowitzky had not tested the car bfore it arrived in Sweden. In fact the first time he saw the car was when it was unloaded for the first practice session. All in all it was hardly suprising that he failed to qualify ending up 5.675 seconds off pole and 2.675 seconds behind the next slowest qualifyer, Rupert Keegan in the Hesketh.

Before the British Grand Prix Mikko had a successful test session. But come qualifying the weather was unsettled and Macdonald told Mikko to go for a fast lap straight away. On just his second lap he came upon a cruising Rupert Keegan at Woodcote. Keegan didn't seek Mikko and stayed on the racing line and Kozarowitzky crashed heavily into the barriers, braking his hand.

In 1978 Howden Ganley and Tim Schenken had just set up Tiga cars. There were plans to enter F1 with Kozarowitzky but lack of budget ensured the project never saw the light of day.

Mikko retired from racing to concentrate on running his business, playing golf and visiting the occasional Grand Prix.



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