View Full Version : Raikkonen goes WRC?
J.Lindstroem
28th July 2008, 22:47
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080728102220.shtml
Like many other drivers from other sports than rallying has done previously (Kubica, Rossi), Kimi Raikkonen has stated that he'd like to try his luck also in rallying. What do you guys have to say about that? Could you imagine Kimi switching of to gravel driving?
Personally i think that whould be cool. But as you can see the article above is not much of a source. Seems more like he was just telling the reporter how interested he is in rallying, and than the reporter makes a big thing about it like this.
But anyway, whould'nt it be quite interesting? What previous drivers with a career in F1 have we had in rallying before?
Cheers, Joel Lindstroem
N.O.T
28th July 2008, 22:49
Hakinen was amusing when he tried it....
J.Lindstroem
28th July 2008, 22:51
Hakinen was amusing when he tried it....
When was that? Tell me more! :D
Josti
28th July 2008, 23:42
Carlos Reutemann drove as a guest driver for Audi and Peugeot in the mid-eightees, at his home rally in Argentina. Don't think he was seriously into rallying though.
Häkkinen drove a works Mitsubishi Lancer WRC at the Arctic Rally in 2003 (and maybe some other rounds too). This car was driven by Jasper van den Heuvel in some rounds of the 2007 Dutch championship (which he eventually crashed heavily).
As for Raikkönen, he will probably quit F1 after this or next year, if you believe recent reports. I think he will try rallying eventually, but I doubt he really wants to get as far as the WRC, let alone if he could.
N.O.T
29th July 2008, 01:35
When was that? Tell me more! :D
he drove in artic lapland a few times....i think it was just after he ended his F1 career...he was so fast that he managed to lose from Papadimitriou in his home soil...
ZequeArgentina
29th July 2008, 02:26
Carlos Reutemann drove as a guest driver for Audi and Peugeot in the mid-eightees, at his home rally in Argentina. Don't think he was seriously into rallying though.
Häkkinen drove a works Mitsubishi Lancer WRC at the Arctic Rally in 2003 (and maybe some other rounds too). This car was driven by Jasper van den Heuvel in some rounds of the 2007 Dutch championship (which he eventually crashed heavily).
As for Raikkönen, he will probably quit F1 after this or next year, if you believe recent reports. I think he will try rallying eventually, but I doubt he really wants to get as far as the WRC, let alone if he could.
Well Retuman had experience, back in the 70´s, tourism car racing in Argentina included some stages of what latter became rally (at least here), but with little pace notes.
After his F1 career, when Peugeot gave him the opportunity with the 205 T 16, he did not bad, finishing 3rd without prior tests and with a French co-driver he did not know before.
He was also 3rd with a 131 Abarth in 1980 Codasur Rally (for the Manufacturers Championship=), in this case again without test and with an Italian co-driver. (after Rohrl works 131 and Mikola Mercedes Benz)
AndyRAC
29th July 2008, 08:12
Sounds like the WRC is desparate for Rossi and Raikkonen to join - doesn't it say something about the sport?
Viking
29th July 2008, 08:53
Mika Salo drove a Mitsubishi in Rally Norway in 2006, not to bad, but way slower than the other Salo (Juha).
ShiftingGears
29th July 2008, 11:15
Sounds like the WRC is desparate for Rossi and Raikkonen to join - doesn't it say something about the sport?
WRC needs some kind of better talent ladder, or more factory drives. As the premier rally championship, I think the depth of talent relative to F1 is quite low. Although popularity has a lot to do with it.
koko0703
29th July 2008, 11:27
It's gonna be interesting to see Raikkonen in rallying but I don't think he'll be good enough to compete at the top level. Maybe his money can take him to enter couple rounds of WRC but I don't think any works team will be interested in Kimi.
Anyways I definitely welcome Kimi into rallying if he wants to try :)
Priorat
29th July 2008, 19:30
Martin Brundle drove a Toyota Corolla Wrc in 1999 RAC Rally
SubaruNorway
29th July 2008, 20:22
Do i remember right in that Kimi has done some gravel notes on Monte once?
Doug Woods
30th July 2008, 03:12
If you step back in time a bit, Jim Clark drove very quickly on the RAC Rally in the 1960s.
Vic Elford was probably the best example of a driver who was equally adept in both a race and rally car.
If you step back in time a bit, Jim Clark drove very quickly on the RAC Rally in the 1960s.
Vic Elford was probably the best example of a driver who was equally adept in both a race and rally car.
Navigator Terry Harryman reckoned Elford was "the finest driver" he ever sat with, as was "so smooth and tidy and neat, and deceptively quick."
Harryman should know a thing or two about the top drivers.
DonJippo
30th July 2008, 05:55
he was so fast that he managed to lose from Papadimitriou in his home soil...
Hey hey...Papa is not that bad after his years rallying in Finland :mad:
But you are right about Häkkinen, rallying is not his thing.
feresc13
30th July 2008, 07:15
If he tries it for fun OK, but if he tries it to get success in the WRC... Maybe the best option will be DTM or WTCC after the F1.
Alex Crivillé, winner of 500cc in 1999 also tried rallying in Spain, he run some events in the national gravel championship and he won in Ourense's event on a Seat Córdoba WRC in 2006.
Buzz Lightyear
30th July 2008, 12:54
Kimi would be that far off the pace it wouldnt be funny.
Priorat
30th July 2008, 13:47
I'm not sure if Kimi would like to wake up so early to go rallying
Mark
30th July 2008, 14:23
Used to be it was quite common for F1 drivers and other from racing series would compete in the RAC.. oops Rally GB.
A.F.F.
30th July 2008, 14:33
he drove in artic lapland a few times....i think it was just after he ended his F1 career...he was so fast that he managed to lose from Papadimitriou in his home soil...
Wasb't it that Pappapappappadopoulos drove WRC car and Häkkinen group-N Mitsu?
AndyRAC
30th July 2008, 14:46
Used to be it was quite common for F1 drivers and other from racing series would compete in the RAC.. oops Rally GB.
Right first time - was RAC Rally.
Rally GB since 1998.
Sorry for being pedantic!!
J.Lindstroem
30th July 2008, 14:51
Raikkonen has a pure driving talent, so seeing how he whould cope with the pace of the Wrc-drivers whould be really intersting. Something tells me that he whould'nt be that far off the pace. I'm sure he whould be faster than Alonso, Massa etc.
Also Raikkonen has been complaining on F1, saying that he loves the driving but hates everything else with it. Maybe rallying could be a solution for him? A little more driving, a little less talkíng. You know what i'm saying?
N.O.T
30th July 2008, 17:01
Wasb't it that Pappapappappadopoulos drove WRC car and Häkkinen group-N Mitsu?
yeah...so...?
A.F.F.
30th July 2008, 17:04
yeah...so...?
You don't have the capasity to figure out what I mean by that?
miksu
30th July 2008, 18:13
Kimi's brother has been into rallying i recall, maybe they could team up and i think they will try it. And i think Kimi wouldnt suck as much as other pure track drivers, i just have that kinda feeling. He does motocross and snowmobile racing pretty well too. Somehow i have a feeling he enjoys drifting with a car
alleskids
30th July 2008, 20:11
Kimi's brother has been into rallying i recall, maybe they could team up and i think they will try it.
I hope that Kimi wil not do the pace notes reading with his wispering hardly hearing voice :) . They will crash at the first corner :) .
What previous drivers with a career in F1 have we had in rallying before?
Carlos Reutemann, ex-Ferrari formula 1 team driver, finished 3rd in rally Argentina in 1980 and 1985. Who else?
Motorsportfun
31st July 2008, 12:33
Stephane Sarrazin (former Minardi F1 team driver in Brazil and works test-driver) drove a "works" Subaru in some WRC rounds.
Derek Warwick RAC 1990, was up to 10th at one stage and ahead of ERC champ that year Saby, until he went off into a ditch.
Woodeye
31st July 2008, 19:16
Hakinen was amusing when he tried it....
I have not idea who is Hakinen. And neither I know any Papappappspapspapadimit...whatever.
Häkkinen is a former F1 champion. Maybe you meant him?
jso1985
31st July 2008, 22:17
Sounds like the WRC is desparate for Rossi and Raikkonen to join - doesn't it say something about the sport?
who says "they" are desperate for them?
in the end Raikkonen didn't state he's looking forward to join the WRC, he's just said he'd would like to do some rallying.
And I doubt he would try a "full" career once again, he might do one or two WRC rounds but I really doubt he will pursue a full season in a works team
koko0703
1st August 2008, 08:03
Speaking of the Formula 1 drivers, I would like to see Alonso in rallying than Raikkonen. I don't know if Alonso will be fast in a rally car, but looking out how he wrestle with this year's unstable Renault, he could be really awsome to watch in a rally car. I mean if you go that side way in a car that isn't meant to go sideway.... :D
Corny
1st August 2008, 12:17
2011, subaru's B team: Rossi and Raikkonen.. :D
AndyRAC
1st August 2008, 13:05
Speaking of the Formula 1 drivers, I would like to see Alonso in rallying than Raikkonen. I don't know if Alonso will be fast in a rally car, but looking out how he wrestle with this year's unstable Renault, he could be really awsome to watch in a rally car. I mean if you go that side way in a car that isn't meant to go sideway.... :D
Has he ever professed a liking for Rallying? I know he likes cycling.
Kaps
1st August 2008, 13:57
Derek Warwick RAC 1990, was up to 10th at one stage and ahead of ERC champ that year Saby, until he went off into a ditch.
Yep, and that was in a works Subaru Legacy, with Ronan Morgan as a co-driver.
Yep, and that was in a works Subaru Legacy, with Ronan Morgan as a co-driver.
It sure was, and he had very little testing in the car prior to the event.
Woodeye
7th August 2008, 08:50
http://www.iltasanomat.fi/urheilu/uutinen.asp?id=1566737
This is in Finnish, but Wilson is offering a test of Ford WRC to Räikkönen. And also Loeb is welcoming Kimi to the world of WRC... :)
J.Lindstroem
7th August 2008, 10:18
can you translate what Loeb is saying? Interesting really! :)
White Sauron
7th August 2008, 10:54
can you translate what Loeb is saying? Interesting really! :)
"It would be good to get a big name into rallying. However it's difficult to switch from circuit driving to rallying, as you need to adapt to pacenotes and driving on gravel, but the one of Kimi talent would certainly find this "driving feeling" with a bit of practice".
AndyRAC
7th August 2008, 10:54
http://www.iltasanomat.fi/urheilu/uutinen.asp?id=1566737
This is in Finnish, but Wilson is offering a test of Ford WRC to Räikkönen. And also Loeb is welcoming Kimi to the world of WRC... :)
Would Ferrari let him try though? I'm sure they might let him in a Fiat Grande Punto Abarth S2000....
turves
7th August 2008, 13:41
heres the link to Rally Live for the Raikkonen/Wilson story
http://rally.racing-live.com/en/headlines/news/detail/080807084054.shtml
Torsen
7th August 2008, 15:12
its like saying because a fighter is good @ boxing he should jump into the cage (MMA)... they are two different animals...
heres the link to Rally Live for the Raikkonen/Wilson story
http://rally.racing-live.com/en/headlines/news/detail/080807084054.shtml
The story and quotes are actually from Motorsport News and not Eurosport as that article states. Motorsport News broke the story and spoke to Wilson and Loeb.
http://rallybuzz.stagetimes.com/kimi-raikkonen-offered-test-malcolm-wilson-focus-wrc/
Motorsportfun
8th August 2008, 00:36
The story and quotes are actually from Motorsport News and not Eurosport as that article states.
They're french :D
PS: I'm joking, of course!
They're french :D
PS: I'm joking, of course!
It's actually Eurosport that printed the original story without citing Motorsport News. Eurosport gave the impression it was their story but have now rectified this.
DonJippo
8th August 2008, 07:57
It's actually Eurosport that printed the original story without citing Motorsport News.
Yes the French as Motorsportfun said :p :
Yes the French as Motorsportfun said :p :
Oh yeah, I know Eurosport are French :D
Just wanted to clarify things ;)
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