Renault rookie Heikki Kovalainen escaped unhurt from a 200kph crash in Formula One testing in Bahrain on Tuesday.

A spokesman for the world champions said the Finn had smashed into the barriers on the exit to turn seven at the desert circuit. The cause of the accident was being investigated.

Bahrain is hosting the final official pre-season test before the season kicks off in Australia on March 18.

The team said Kovalainen, who has replaced Spain's double world champion Fernando Alonso in the Renault line-up alongside Italian Giancarlo Fisichella, would not be testing again on Tuesday.

However the car, which suffered heavy damage to the rear right bodywork, was expected to be repaired overnight.

Text: Reuters | Photograph: Getty Images