Knockout Race of Champions

London - Finnish Formula 1 driver Heikki Kovalainen needed a precautionary trip to hospital after being knocked out in a big crash at the Race of Champions in Duesseldorf on Sunday.

The Lotus Racing driver, a former winner of the annual exhibition event, lost control of his Audi R8 sports car and ploughed into the barriers and a concrete wall.

"Hardcore shunt with throttle jammed and rear suspension damaged, got knocked out, now some medical checkups," Kovalainen said on his Twitter feed (@H_Kovalainen) before later reporting all was well.

His British girlfriend Catherine Hyde, who the passenger in the car, was unhurt.

Portuguese GT racer Filipe Albuquerque was the surprise winner of the event after beating France's seven-times World Rally champion Sebastien Loeb in the final.

Albuquerque had earlier beaten new Formula a champion Sebastian Vettel, who had himself overcome compatriot and seven-times champion Michael Schumacher in the quarter-final, to the disappointment of the home crowd.

However, Vettel and Schumacher together won the Nations Cup for the fourth year in a row on Saturday.