Once upon a time, he seemed destined to storm the Formula 1 pinnacle alongside his Finnish compatriot Keke Rosberg. However, while one became a world champion, Mikko Kozarowitzky (76) sought his adrenaline rush elsewhere. He did business with Hugo Chávez and Jacob Zuma, ended up in prison, stared down the barrel of a Kalashnikov, but also taught tennis and ran an auto parts company in Sittard. This is a tale from the depths of F1, about a man who has finally found his peace in the hills of Limburg.
There are former Formula 1 drivers who seem to have vanished from the face of the earth, leaving no trace behind. Take Roelof Wunderink, for example. No one knows where the once talented Brabander is now. The same was true for Mikko Kozarowitzky for decades. The Finn got a taste of Formula 1 in 1977, ended up in Sittard due to love, but then seemingly disappeared into thin air. That is until his name resurfaced, this time from a hidden village in the hills of Limburg. There, he dusts off his tumultuous past. “I feel better than ever,” beams the Finn as he, well-groomed and with a tanned face, tells his story in a brasserie in the heart of Heerlen.
His positive state of mind is reflected in his reading habits. “Whenever possible, in my relaxation chair in the sun. I have found my peace. Finally.” How contradictory this attitude is to his turbulent history. Kozarowitzky explored all corners of the world; rarely, if ever, had a home. He camped among political leaders of dubious character. Always in search of adrenaline. The need for speed, in whatever form. “It wasn’t a craving for money. I was looking for excitement. That was my driving force. Why, I wonder now.”
Burned Alive
Kozarowitzky’s turbulent life journey perhaps finds its origin in a shocking event at the age of 8. Mikko’s father worked in the automotive industry, had a penchant for fast cars, and was involved in testing. Among others for Lotus, which under the leadership of the legendary Colin Chapman, was making strides in motorsport. Chapman was known for building ultra-light cars. Fast cars, but dangerous. “Just before I turned 8, I was with my father. He crashed, the car caught fire, and he burned alive before my eyes.”
Read the full story, written by Ivo Op den Camp, in the new edition of FORMULE 1 Magazine! Now available in stores and also digitally (with free delivery in the Netherlands).
