Kimi starts his rally career

[Mauri A]

[wrc_flipper]

0

Thats great news - hopefully they like it and do well and continue

[Mihai]

"Kimi starts his rakky career"

I guess 'k' si right next to 'l' on the keyboard. Or was it a word game combining Raikkonen with rally ? http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g202/gr8link/orn/00.gif

Anyway, I'm a bit surprinsed that Kimi won't drive an Abarth Grande Punto (corporate family connection to Ferrari), but a Lancer in the Arctic rally. It might have something to do with the fact that the Grande Punto in full-winter spec is not available yet.

[urabus-denoS2000]

Kimi is entered in an Punto S2000....

[Mihai]

Oops, that's right! Reading from a French news blog I understood the both Kimi and Hakkinen will drive Lancers.

http://news.caradisiac.com/Rallye-Hakkinen-et-Raikkonen-engages-au-Arctic-Lapland-Rally-435

I have to improve my french! :burnout:

[Karbonyl]

It might have something to do with the fact that the Grande Punto in full-winter spec is not available yet.Snow-spec for Punto was developed already a year ago by JM Engineering team also with help of Kristian Sohlberg. I think this car is now fully competetive.

[DonJippo]

Kimi is entered in an Punto S2000....

It's his own Punto S2000.

[RS]

It's his own Punto S2000.

Kimi bought a Punto?

Cool :) He should have come to Monte.

[Karbonyl]

Monte? Too tough start for rally-career I guess :)

[Mihai]

Kimi is set to compete in the Arctic Rally, not Monte. ;)

[Karbonyl]

I know that Arctic is before Monte, but I tghought it generally. Second race is still start of career ;)

[miksu]

According to one news paper his car is new and he will get it next weekend with the maintenance package and spares. Dunno if its latest development version or not. It will be driven in by Mäkinen, cause Kimi is testing Ferrari monday-tuesday.

Some guys can have nice hobbies :P

http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.turunsanomat.fi%2Ff1%2F%3Fts%3D 1%2C3%3A2001%3A0%3A0%2C4%3A34%3A718%3A1%3A2009-01-10%3B4%3A35%3A0%3A0%3A0%3B4%3A36%3A0%3A0%3A0%2C104 %3A34%3A586609%2C1%3A0%3A0%3A0%3A0%3A0%3A&sl=fi&tl=en&history_state0=

[Sulland]

I thought he had bought a new car, but according to this one it is a 2007 model, maybe with upgrades:
http://www.s2000rally.com/car-detail.php?car=19

Good luck anyway, Iceman !

[runde]

Don't always believe what internet tolds you. That information is not correct.
:)

[Sulland]

So he has a fresh 2009 model then ?

[DonJippo]

Sorry if this been posted allready somewhere else but here it goes anyway. Kimi will continue his rally career on coming weekend in Vaakuna-ralli, second round of the Finnish rally championship. http://www.mtv3.fi/urheilu/ralli/uutiset.shtml/arkistot/ralli/2009/02/797614

[bluuford]

Kimi has done great job once again. He was lying as high as 7th before going off and losing some time on penultimate stage. You can see the results from that online tab: http://www.tenab.net/online.htm
ek= special stage
and under SM classification

[Barreis]

It's so good for WRC sport..

[rallyemotions]

Just curious - any news/rumors regarding Joensuu ralli and Kimi's rally season?

[Brother John]

Raikkonen 6 minutes off road in snow and finished17th.
http://g8pq9q.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p6koVu3fXVvuX-UpqWlVLlcVpx9-gpisoWsV2AjLo701-PNPhubx_vrLL7Vw6a9l2GF-7tDCnZ-k/juttukimiulos212JJ_fo.jpg (http://g8pq9q.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p6koVu3fXVvuX-UpqWlVLlcVpx9-gpisoWsV2AjLo701-PNPhubx_vrLL7Vw6a9l2GF-7tDCnZ-k/juttukimiulos212JJ_fo.jpg)

[gloomyDAY]

Kimi looks drunk.

[DonJippo]

Kimi looks drunk.

As they say...takes one to know one...or something like that ;)

[Brother John]

As they say...takes one to know one...or something like that ;)

:laugh: :up: And no response :disturb:

[Hartusvuori]

Just curious - any news/rumors regarding Joensuu ralli and Kimi's rally season?

I've heard none, but that's his last chance if he likes to compete in Finnish national championships, because all the summer rounds are at the same weekends with F1 GPs.

However - Neste Oil Rally Finland is ran on a week after Hungaroring, so that could be possible (and interesting), right?

[RS]

I would be surprised if Ferrari would let Kimi do any rallying during the F1 season.

He is clearly making very good progress. An article in Motorsport News today says he would like to try a tarmac event.

[rallyemotions]

To answer my own question :) If not under some special arrangement with organizer, we'll not see Kimi in Joensuu.

[GallardoGT]

Found this topic again after reading some recent Kimi news:

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=351201

I read also that he is the best paid driver with 30 million dollar. He has enough money to start a serious rally career now. I like the guy nowadays and hope he quits with F1 !

He should start next year with a private Ford WRC imo, the best car too catch up with the other guys.

[bluuford]

I have heard rumors that Kimi plans to do Artcic Lapland Rally again. So, it could be good practice for Sweden;-)

[Tomi]

I have heard rumors that Kimi plans to do Artcic Lapland Rally again. So, it could be good practice for Sweden;-)

rumours about that other F1 guys might be there too.

[Koppomsbo]

rumours about that other F1 guys might be there too.

Kova?

[J.Lindstroem]

Kova?

I whould guess Kubica!

[Mirek]

I also think Kovalainen.

[Hartusvuori]

Kimi, Kubica, Vettel, Häkkinen - but of course first of all only rumours.

[Tomi]

Kimi, Kubica, Vettel, Häkkinen - but of course first of all only rumours.

Vettel was here in a rally school last winter.

[sal]

Just scroll down and see what Sniffpetrol make of Kimi's rallying debut!

http://www.sniffpetrol.com/page/2/

[Rallyper]

Kimi, Kubica, Vettel, Häkkinen - but of course first of all only rumours.

Imagine in a few years time we have the opposite situation - WRC is more popular than F1, and all the F1-drivers have transmuted to be WRC-drivers!

How about that?? :D :D

[Barreis]

Rally was equal with F1 when C.McRae was in..

[Josti]

Rally was equal with F1 when C.McRae was in..

Don't think so, Colin McRae was just a very populaire figure himself.

The height of the Group B days was pretty much on par with F1, until they killed it off.

[Barreis]

It's not TV sport as F1 but every kid knew who C.McRae was bacause of PS game..

[Iskald]

The height of the Group B days was pretty much on par with F1, until they killed it off.

Until "they" killed it off??? I would rather say that Group B killed itself.

I also belong among those who will like to see Kimi in rallying, but reports from Rally Finland suggested that Kimi brought with him a "F1-attitude" that especially some rallying journalists found rather annoying. Being used to Loeb, Petter, Hirvonen, Latvala and all the other good lads from rallying, they found the star-attitude of Kimi well out of place. So he has to get rid of that in a sport where most of the stars actually are nice blokes and available to fans and media.

[ShiftingGears]

Until "they" killed it off??? I would rather say that Group B killed itself.


One could argue that Balestre's inaction towards Group B prior to 1986 allowed it to escalate to what it became - unsustainable.

[Josti]

Until "they" killed it off??? I would rather say that Group B killed itself.

But the FIA has a responsible role in this and they failed to see it escalate, and as theugsquirrel said, balestre's position towards rule control in rallying (and the whole organisation for that matter) was minimal. Group B should have been better controlled, not banned, at least Group S should have been given a chance.

But let's not get too off-topic here.

[Rallyper]

Until "they" killed it off??? I would rather say that Group B killed itself.

I also belong among those who will like to see Kimi in rallying, but reports from Rally Finland suggested that Kimi brought with him a "F1-attitude" that especially some rallying journalists found rather annoying. Being used to Loeb, Petter, Hirvonen, Latvala and all the other good lads from rallying, they found the star-attitude of Kimi well out of place. So he has to get rid of that in a sport where most of the stars actually are nice blokes and available to fans and media.

Talking about the star-attitude I can agree that it´s not belonging to rallying and WRC.
BUT - you have to remind that Kimi was, and is, still a F1-driver with all that popularity it takes. So there´s nothing to worry about. When Kimi joins WRC ther will be no problems with starattitude. I´m sure of that. :p

(There´s also a difference today related to ten years ago in how the drivers moved around at HQ among the public. Then they just where around for everyone. Nowadays I´ve only seen Bosse and Petter doing that) ;)

[gloomyDAY]

Kimi isn't going to land a seat in F1 next season, so he wants to try his hand at rallying with Citroen. Hell, maybe I'll actually watch a rally next season to see how well Kimi does on-stage. From what I've seen there is a lot of kickassedness left inside of Kimi.

[Sulland]

According to this piece, Robertson is confirming a sabbatical for Kimi, and some rallies; http://translate.google.no/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dagbladet.no%2F2009%2 F11%2F18%2Fsport%2Fformel_1%2Fmotorsport%2Fferrari %2Fmclaren%2F9094453%2F&sl=no&tl=en&hl=no&ie=UTF-8

[Koppomsbo]

well, i like. This probably means i can see him live in NORF next year :)

[noel157]

Hirvonen's opinion:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80335

[Rallyper]

According to wrc.com Kimi is very close to a deal with Citroen. The deal offers him 13 rounds of next years wrc in C4 sponsored by Red Bull. :)

Well, MW wasn´t fast enough then... :p :

[I am evil Homer]

13 rounds with an uproven driver while Atko sits it out and Meeke drives IRC. Madness...

[sal]

Dont you just hate those lame WRC press releases/stories? "iF Kimi does drive a C4 WRC he'll be in good company..." WTF!

[Rallyper]

No one can deny that Kimis entrie will boost the championship maybe 300% next year.

If we should weight the drivers ability according to if they in or out of the wrc, then there´s hundreds that would be there before Atko and Meeke. :D :D

Now we have maybe Kimi in there for next year - let´s be overwelmed about that and hope WRC is back even in media for next year! :) :)

[bluuford]

No one can deny that Kimis entrie will boost the championship maybe 300% next year.

If we should weight the drivers ability according to if they in or out of the wrc, then there´s hundreds that would be there before Atko and Meeke. :D :D

Now we have maybe Kimi in there for next year - let´s be overwelmed about that and hope WRC is back even in media for next year! :) :)

Yes, it is kind of grass fire. The first, there are some top drivers called Loeb or Hirvonen and their fans like them, but press and bigger crowds does not care about it.
But then comes someone named Kimi who has a superbly mysterious personality. He does know a little about rally but not much. But he seems mysteriously fast. Then comes Red Bull and sees it as a good marketing opportunity and the way to bring some Kimi f1 fans to another sport. Red Bulls´s investments in WRC will get better benefit for sure.

Then someone else sees that "ou!" Red Bull and Kimi are there, lets put our Monster Energy with Block and Atko there as well. Then another one finds that.. Hey, everybody are there we should do it as well to keep us on picture. Bit similar situation why Toyota was in F1, because Honda was there as well..

Sometimes you just need to shout to begin avalanche. And I see Kimi in WRC as that shouter. Just for example. I am reading online daily newspaper and in last month there have been only a handful of days when they are not talking about Kimi and rally. And imagine yourself as a sponsor? your driver every day on the newspapers with your sponsor logos and they do it for free for you :-)

[JFL]

So redbull/Kimi/Citröen was announced before Block/Monster Energy/Atko/Msport?

[Simmi]

So redbull/Kimi/Citröen was announced before Block/Monster Energy/Atko/Msport?

Nothing has been announced yet by anyone. Only rumours. But the Monster Energy/Ken Block was the first to surface. I wouldn't mind a battle of the energy drinks to happen in WRC next year.

[Buzz Lightyear]

Yes, it is kind of grass fire. The first, there are some top drivers called Loeb or Hirvonen and their fans like them, but press and bigger crowds does not care about it.
But then comes someone named Kimi who has a superbly mysterious personality. He does know a little about rally but not much. But he seems mysteriously fast. Then comes Red Bull and sees it as a good marketing opportunity and the way to bring some Kimi f1 fans to another sport. Red Bulls´s investments in WRC will get better benefit for sure.

Then someone else sees that "ou!" Red Bull and Kimi are there, lets put our Monster Energy with Block and Atko there as well. Then another one finds that.. Hey, everybody are there we should do it as well to keep us on picture. Bit similar situation why Toyota was in F1, because Honda was there as well..

Sometimes you just need to shout to begin avalanche. And I see Kimi in WRC as that shouter. Just for example. I am reading online daily newspaper and in last month there have been only a handful of days when they are not talking about Kimi and rally. And imagine yourself as a sponsor? your driver every day on the newspapers with your sponsor logos and they do it for free for you :-)

I think Redbull was pay him to drive a WRC car, in the hope the can get him in their F1 team for 2011. I bet Kimi, who has never driven a WRC car, will be getting paid more than 6 times world champion Loeb..!

[Tomi]

Ok, kimi will drive rally next season in the citroen junior team, teammate is propably Ogier, redbull is kimis sponsor, kimi will drive arctic rally as well and a testprogram before that.

[Rallyper]

Ok, kimi will drive rally next season in the citroen junior team, teammate is propably Ogier, redbull is kimis sponsor, kimi will drive arctic rally as well and a testprogram before that.

Hei Tomi!

Do you have inside information about that? :)
Or are you just suggesting? :dozey:

[Tomi]

Hei Tomi!

Do you have inside information about that? :)
Or are you just suggesting? :dozey:

just a guess :)

[Mirek]

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mtv3.fi%2Furheilu%2Fralli%2Fuut iset.shtml%2Farkistot%2Fralli%2F2009%2F11%2F100810 4&sl=fi&tl=en

According to MTV3 it's signed...

[Simmi]

Good good good. Get him in the car tomorrow and up to speed!

[Hartusvuori]

]http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mtv3.fi%2Furheilu%2Fralli%2Fuut iset.shtml%2Farkistot%2Fralli%2F2009%2F11%2F100810 4&sl=fi&tl=en

According to MTV3 it's signed...

According to Ilta-Sanomat it's not... I just love this tennis.

[Tomi]

According to Ilta-Sanomat it's not... I just love this tennis.

yes but if you look who's deny it, it's understandable, i belive Kuvaja deny it because redbull wants to announce the contract. This is mega motorsport news.

[veeten]

Here you go, Tomi... :)

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80423

[Tomi]

Here you go, Tomi... :)

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80423

WOW,WOW,WOW, what a surprise :)

[N.O.T]

if the deal is done i just wish him luck and just hope to be safe and healthy until the rallies he is going to do are over....then he can return to the kids circus sport he belongs.

[I am evil Homer]

What BS...meanwhile proven rally winners like Meeke can't get a look in.

[miksu]

What BS...meanwhile proven rally winners like Meeke can't get a look in.

At least Kimi has marketing value and big fanbase, if it happens that he doesn't have enough speed. In recent years there's been plenty of drivers who lack both of those qualities and in my opinion those are the ones who are taking the places from the promising young ones.

[N.O.T]

kimi pays as many useless ones have to so he joined its that simple...citroen didn;t offer him a seat because they like him....

[I am evil Homer]

At least Kimi has marketing value and big fanbase, if it happens that he doesn't have enough speed. In recent years there's been plenty of drivers who lack both of those qualities and in my opinion those are the ones who are taking the places from the promising young ones.

Wilson and Rautencrash being the obvious examples :D

[gloomyDAY]

kimi pays as many useless ones have to so he joined its that simple...citroen didn;t offer him a seat because they like him....$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[RS]

Great news for WRC. Kimi will come in as the biggest name in the sport already and should bring some new fans.

I don't expect it to be too long at all until he outpaces some of the more established pay drivers, if not immediately.

[Tomi]

kimi pays as many useless ones have to so he joined its that simple...citroen didn;t offer him a seat because they like him....

Thats true, I belive that if Redbull have a F1 contract with him starting from 2011, they want their driver someway in the limelight in the time between also, why else should they sponsor him, but it will be interesting to see how he manage.

[Mauri A]

What´s this all fussle? Haven´t found any confirmation yet.

[Simmi]

Few reports about that Kimi will sign at a RedBull press conference tomorrow by reinacting this famous jump - then signing the contract at the top. Just to show he is Red Bull worthy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLejkyXbJlc

[tmx]

About to be confirmed in a couple hours according to autosport.com.


Until "they" killed it off??? I would rather say that Group B killed itself.

I also belong among those who will like to see Kimi in rallying, but reports from Rally Finland suggested that Kimi brought with him a "F1-attitude" that especially some rallying journalists found rather annoying. Being used to Loeb, Petter, Hirvonen, Latvala and all the other good lads from rallying, they found the star-attitude of Kimi well out of place. So he has to get rid of that in a sport where most of the stars actually are nice blokes and available to fans and media. He'll also have to deal with not getting paid over 50million euros like at Ferrari and Citroen will more likely give the championship capable winning car to Loeb.

I still think the move will bring neccesary interests to the WRC.

[Woodeye]

The deal is done.

http://www.iltalehti.fi/etusivu/

This is the best thing that could happen to WRC. Finally there's a star in the series who is known by a billion people at least.

[jonkka]

If billion flies likes poop...

[Viking]

Thats true, I belive that if Redbull have a F1 contract with him starting from 2011, they want their driver someway in the limelight in the time between also, why else should they sponsor him, but it will be interesting to see how he manage.

Hmmm... every Finn seem to live around Kimi in a way where is no realism left. Its better to face the facts, Kimis carreer is about to come to an end.
In Finland it would be clever maybe to invest the limited sponsor money on new talet, instead of still feeding guys who has done their work as road opener already.




;)

[cali]

Hmmm... every Finn seem to live around Kimi in a way where is no realism left. Its better to face the facts, Kimis carreer is about to come to an end.
In Finland it would be clever maybe to invest the limited sponsor money on new talet, instead of still feeding guys who has done their work as road opener already.




;)

The Rallyforum Nations World Cup

Finland 1 - 1 Norway

:D

[Tomi]

Hmmm... every Finn seem to live around Kimi in a way where is no realism left. Its better to face the facts, Kimis carreer is about to come to an end.
In Finland it would be clever maybe to invest the limited sponsor money on new talet, instead of still feeding guys who has done their work as road opener already.




;)

Ok, tell please how much does the finns have sponsor money in this? But I agree he wont do wery well, i guess if he beat a few average drivers, thats it.
Im also sure that the carreer will continiue in F1 after next year, after that maybe the carreer is finished.

[Viking]

Just a little friendly bashing Tomi. Cheer up, it's Friday :)

[Tomi]

Just a little friendly bashing Tomi. Cheer up, it's Friday :)

sure :) , but what comes to sponsor money in Finnish rally in general, surprisingly little actually is Finnish money, I think we have to Thank the Brittons more than many maybe know.

[Hartusvuori]

Hmmm... every Finn seem to live around Kimi in a way where is no realism left. Its better to face the facts, Kimis carreer is about to come to an end.
In Finland it would be clever maybe to invest the limited sponsor money on new talet, instead of still feeding guys who has done their work as road opener already.


;)


The Rallyforum Nations World Cup

Finland 1 - 1 Norway

:D

Brilliant, Viking!

[Hartusvuori]

Räikkönen's co-driver Kaj Lindström gave a 10-minute interview for YLE Etelä-Savo (Finnish audio (http://yle.fi/media/asxgen.php?file=radiosuomi/etelasavonradio/ralli.wma)). Here's few points:

- it was Lindström that made the first contact to Citroën
- according to Lindström, Kimi won't get double-pay compared to Loeb, however he does not know the exact facts
- once they get seats fitted in early January they will start snow tests for Sweden (it's rumoured that they'd take part to Arctic Rally Lapland with C4 as well)
- Lindström says their goal is to reach championship points, but not at the get-go (he's being realistic)
- before Räikkönen's move to WRC came apparent, Lindström was involved in some other negoations to WRC seat for 2010 season as well, but does not give out names of course

[Tomi]

- Lindström says their goal is to reach championship points, but not at the get-go (he's being realistic)

Yes, a few years back there was some f1 testdriver (dont remember his name, french guy i think) who did some tarmac rallies in a subaru, on some stages he did competible times, i think the same will be with Kimi at the start atleast.

[Mk2_Escort_RS]

Yes, a few years back there was some f1 testdriver (dont remember his name, french guy i think) who did some tarmac rallies in a subaru, on some stages he did competible times, i think the same will be with Kimi at the start atleast.

Sarrazin?

[Tomi]

Sarrazin?

yes, i think it was him.

[N.O.T]

- according to Lindström, Kimi won't get double-pay compared to Loeb, however he does not know the exact facts


Nice lie...good start for him

[Barreis]

Bad move for The Ice Man.. At least he has winning car.. That's how bad is WRC when needs F1 man to be popular.. Very bad..

[koko0703]

I welcome Kimi to the WRC. It'll be interesting how he will do against the world's best rally driver.

[JFL]

I welcome Kimi to the WRC. It'll be interesting how he will do against the world's best rally driver.

I welcome Kimi too.. Great to see new faces in the wrc.. Ironicly he'll probably place higher in the standings in the WRC then in a national championship.... Best of luck to him!!!

[I am evil Homer]

Well he's got a very good co-driver to help him out, and a very good car. Now the only question mark is his skill in rallying...

[F1boat]

I wish him all the best. If he wins a rally, it will be a miracle.

[jas123f1]

I wish him all the best. If he wins a rally, it will be a miracle.

The same :) - now i'm waiting for that miracle to be true :) .. maybe he has a chance on some asphalt rally. However im sure Kimi will make a good job - as usually..

I keep my keep one's fingers crossed for Vettel in F1 and Kimis "miracle" in Rally .. :)

[Simmi]

It will give a nice added dimension to the WRC next year. 'Kimi Watch' will be something else to look for in the stages.

[F1boat]

The same :) - now i'm waiting for that miracle to be true :) .. maybe he has a chance on some asphalt rally. :)

Oh, if he wins Rally Bulgaria, this will be the best :)

[COD]

Ok, the move might be good for rallying at short term, but...

I just don't like the fact that while there are several talented young rallydrivers without a drive strugling to find a budget, the teams and sponsors PAY for a guy that has experience from 4 rallies to drive a top WRC. I know he is a world champion in F1. But do you see F1 teams hiring Loeb for full season? I don't....

[I am evil Homer]

I agree but that's the way it is sadly.

[Rallyper]

Ok, the move might be good for rallying at short term, but...

I just don't like the fact that while there are several talented young rallydrivers without a drive strugling to find a budget, the teams and sponsors PAY for a guy that has experience from 4 rallies to drive a top WRC. I know he is a world champion in F1. But do you see F1 teams hiring Loeb for full season? I don't....

Welcome to the real world where money talks as it has been a few decades now.

[RS]

Hmmm... every Finn seem to live around Kimi in a way where is no realism left. Its better to face the facts, Kimis carreer is about to come to an end.
In Finland it would be clever maybe to invest the limited sponsor money on new talet, instead of still feeding guys who has done their work as road opener already.




;)

:D That's funny

But actually, I don't agree in the case of Kimi. It's not possible to say he is not good enough as a rally driver because he has only done a limited amount so far.

In Finland this year he was already more impressive for me than Tuohino, who was never that quick but at least is a proper rally driver. Therefore I expect him to do better than the Wilsons and Rautenbachs of this world. The biggest question for me is how he does on the slower more technical rallies, and asphalt (I think he has only done one asphalt rally before and didn't complete that?)

[Tomi]

Ok, the move might be good for rallying at short term, but...

I just don't like the fact that while there are several talented young rallydrivers without a drive strugling to find a budget, the teams and sponsors PAY for a guy that has experience from 4 rallies to drive a top WRC. I know he is a world champion in F1. But do you see F1 teams hiring Loeb for full season? I don't....

Agree, but this will be short term, it's only because of the ferrari deal, nobody has the cash to pay him out of it.

[DonJippo]

Welcome to the real world where money talks as it has been a few decades now.

So true but it seems to be too difficult concept for some to understand.

[Mauri A]

I sincerely hope that Kimi will get the instruction how to open his door window at the finish! This year in the Arctic Rally he couldn´t.
He must change his attitude.

[Hartusvuori]

I sincerely hope that Kimi will get the instruction how to open his door window at the finish! This year in the Arctic Rally he couldn´t.
He must change his attitude.

If he's driving a 2009 spec C4 I'd love to see him open the door window as well!

[Tomi]

I sincerely hope that Kimi will get the instruction how to open his door window at the finish! This year in the Arctic Rally he couldn´t.
He must change his attitude.

The window was propably broken, it was a fiat.

[J4MIE]

I really don't get all the moaning these days, it's a shame people can't be a bit more supportive when we've yet to see what he can(/cannot?) so. He is already bringing a lot more exposure to the sport and maybe, just maybe, some racing fans will start becoming more and more interested as well.

Good luck to the guy, I hope he enjoys himself at least. But I think asking already for wins is a bit much.

[Wim_Impreza]

I don't like that a guy can start in WRC when he didn't drove his full national championship before. Remember the driver with the Punto S2000 in Rallye du Valais...

[Miika]

Before bashing him for good lets just wait and let the iceman show what kind of potential he might have for the sport. Not expecting any miracles in the first season but some of the current regular WRC clowns will surely be put into shame thanks to his general talent of handling any car/vehicle he drives. And once he gets more experience of the events, setups and making pace-notes then who knows what will follow if he stays in rallying long enough.

[Simmi]

How many rallies before he is outpacing Matt Wilson? 1? 2?

[Tomi]

How many rallies before he is outpacing Matt Wilson? 1? 2?

My guess is in sweden already, if he finish, and in top 5 in the first tarmac rally.

[Juha_Koo]

I really don't get all the moaning these days, it's a shame people can't be a bit more supportive when we've yet to see what he can(/cannot?) so. He is already bringing a lot more exposure to the sport and maybe, just maybe, some racing fans will start becoming more and more interested as well.

Indeed. :up:

[MJW]

How many rallies before he is outpacing Matt Wilson? 1? 2?
From the first rally............. As soom as Kimi and Kai "click with the pacenotes, he will be at the points position OK Loeb, Sordo, Miko, JML, Petter and Ogier will ne ahead but I honestly expect Kimi to be next up, - yes that correct ahead of the pay drivers /rich kids set.

[Eki]

I sincerely hope that Kimi will get the instruction how to open his door window at the finish! This year in the Arctic Rally he couldn´t.
He must change his attitude.
Isn't it usually that cold in the Arctic Rally that only a fool would open a window? Besides, maybe it was frozen. Day before yesterday, my door window didn't open in the morning when I went to work and tried to open it to scrape ice from my mirror. It was frozen shut.

[Helstar]

Well it's one car more on the road, and it should be nicer to view him compared to Wislow or Rautencrash. But when I see people like PJ, Gigi and Atkinson out (not counting people in IRC/national rallies who could do great things too), then I don't really accept this lazy superstar ... F1A should have started with S2000 already this year dammit. Then 2011 1.6T or whatever they want.

[pino]

Agree, but this will be short term, it's only because of the ferrari deal, nobody has the cash to pay him out of it.

That, and the fact that for Red Bull will be much easier to put him on 2nd F1 seat along Vettel in 2011 ;) Anyway good Luck to Kimi no matter what :up:

[Barreis]

If he can drive 350 km/h then he can drive 200 km/h on gravel.. 4 rallies should be enough for some kind of experience on rally road.. The Ice Man, I more prefer Your job on F1 track..

[Boudica]

Interview with Kaj Lindström

How did the contract negotiations proceed so that you got to this point?
- Well, the matter has been active for a longer time, of course it isn't a short process when a guy like him makes a contract. The managers have worked on it and now we have reached the point where all the facts are on paper and the paper is signed.

Have you been intensively involved in this process all the time?
- In that way I have been involved that when we started talking about Citroen I was the person who was first in contact with them and then they started to take the matter further and then it was taken by bigger hands.

There has been enormous rumours around Kimi, probably more than around any other guy in the history of motorsport. What kind of options did Kimi have when thinking of next season? Do you know anything about them?
- Hmm, of course I know something about them but we have talked about this for long, ever since he got the information that his contract with Ferrari will be terminated and ever since that we started working on the rally-project and then in a quite early stage after that Kimi decided that he won't continue in F1.
- I haven't seen the contract and all the details in it but I'm sure that I will know more when we go to Paris in the beginning of January to try out the seats (benches).

Does Kimi get paid twice as much as Loeb?
- There seems to be all kinds of rumours but if the information I was given is correct then it really isn't true.

How long is the contract?
- One year at the time. Kimi's scenes can change, we don't know if he will go back to F1 or if rally is his future but those are things that for sure will be cleared out during season 2010 when we see how the rally goes, how much it interests him and then of course what his managers can accomplish on the F1-side.
- For Kimi this will bring yet new challenges, we have to remember that he is inexperienced when it comes to rally, he has a lot of work and challenges since people seem to be really thirsty to see him succeed and of course there is potential for that too but it also depends on of how quickly we get them chased out of the guy.

What can we realistically wait from Kimi?
- If we keep in mind that he has raced in four rallies, in other words an amount that a normal driver drives doubled in his first year and still it doesn't lead anywhere. He is a talented, a very talented driver in F1 and those skills can be used on this side too but you shouldn't wait for any victories in any rallies, that's for sure, but we will try at least to gradually lift the position up to the points and see how far they take during the first year.

Have you agreed upon any testing program?
- Of course we drive tests before the first rally and the first test is when we take part in the Arctic rally.

Yes, snow, tarmac and gravel, you will drive on all those. Kimi is most familiar with the tarmac and has some experience of snow too but he will still have a lot of work?
- I'm waiting with a huge interest for the tarmac rallies because he is quite a lot talented on tarmac. Last year we went to Italy but unfortunately the race didn't go anywhere because the car had technical problems but the test before the race on tarmac promised quite a lot.

Is Kimi Räikkönen the first WDC in both F1 and WRC?
- It's possible but not during this first year, that you have to remember!

How does it feel for you to go back to work?
- Very good because my blood is in rally and I'm very pleased.

Did you have other options?
- During the autumn I had other rides in WRC offered but when we started to negotiate with Kimi we also decided that I would be in his ride and informed the others that I'm not available.

There has been other rumours too all the time, Petter Sohlberg said that Kimi will come to his team and there was even talks about Marcus Grönholm driving there.
- Petter of course, when this rumour mill is going on, Petter is an ex team mate to Tommi and me so apparently it goes so that when we go to chat with Petter somebody puts 2 and 2 together thinking that we will drive there for sure. It's quite a rumour mill that has been piled up.

How have you reacted to these rumours when you have seen Toyota, McLaren, RedBull and Mercedes GP and Sohlberg's team, Citroen and double the salary that Loeb gets and even Ford offered a test - has it amused you when you have known all along what the deal is?
- It has boiled over, the whole thing. Ford's tests meant that Malcolm said to the Finnish media that Kimi is welcomed to test if he wants to and that was his offer, nothing more. Then there's been these helmet-paintings and double salaries - who comes up with them and where do they come from? But it seems to be like this whenever Kimi is concerned.

What does it mean for the WRC-serie that Kimi Räikkönen will drive there?
- It will have a bigger impact than we can even guess at this point.

They have also said that Kimi is more suited for the rally-atmosphere than he is for the F1-atmosphere?
- Let's hope that it's correct. He was in the previous rallies in a good mood and enjoyed it there and then there is the challenge that is the most important thing.
(Translation thanks to Nicole)

[Micke_VOC]

Great news for the sport.
Maybe there will be some new fans of the best motorsport =)

[driveace]

May i wish Kimi well in his rally car in 2010.I think the drinking is maybe a Finnish thing,as in the old days all the drinking was I believe in the Alko,s,the underground drinking dens.
Dont underestimate him as maybe he will find rallying more relaxed as regards the public and the sponsers,and if he enjoys it will I am sure be more sociable with the fans.(I hope so,as I have seen too much of him with his coat collar up ,and his hat pulled down avoiding eye contact with all the fans )

[Boudica]

Great news for the sport.
Maybe there will be some new fans of the best motorsport =)

Le Petit have stated on facebook that the amount of 24 000 fans went up to 80 000 fans between yesterday and today in the WRC FB group. :eek:

[Sami]

I would be pleasantly surprised if he could outpace Wilson in 2010 anywhere. Best chances he has I think in Catalunya, where the road is easy, smooth, wide and clean (mostly) and stages are driven several times. The cirquit event like route where even 2wd cars have been competitive could be closest to his own area.

The biggest challenge to him is not the pace notes or gravel but the fact that in rallying you drive 400kms of road you can't remember when in cirquit racing you drive a short route you remember every inch of it and create a perfect lap that you try to do over and over again consistently.

In rallying you just have to react to unknown situations, slippery places, visually confusing corners that seem different at first that they really are (faster or slower than they seem) and you have only one (nowadays sometimes 2) chance to do it right and then there is the next corner and the next... In every corner there's a surprise waiting as on cirquit you don't have that unknown factor at all.

The marginals in rallying are much smaller and that is why I predict a lot of accidents if he tries to beat Wilson from the beginning. If you have in F1 maybe 15 different corners, so 15 different places you have to get right, in rallying there's thousands and that is the difference in requirements for the drivers.

Still I think he has a chance to do well, he comes from a rallying family, ha has been involved in rallying for a long time and driven on loose a lot (even though I remember an old video where he competed in rallycross with his old father and brother and was beaten by both of them!).

In NORF Kimi did well, but not that well. He beat Alén on some stages, but never Hänninen. Would Alén beat Wilson in wrc, never! On SS2 in NORF Kimi already was close to roll where I was watching and the on Väärinmaja he rolled in my place, I knew it would happen and it did, that place was just too difficult to his experience and driving skills.

But he has potential for sure, nobody knows how much, but if he beats Wilson from the beginning, I am positively surprised.

[RS]

In NORF Kimi did well, but not that well. He beat Alén on some stages, but never Hänninen. Would Alén beat Wilson in wrc, never!

I'm not Anton's biggest fan but I can't agree with you there. I don't expect Anton is slower than Wilson on gravel.

The bigger question for me is the slower events and tarmac as I said before. Kimi has the balls necessary for Finland and I am sure knows the character of the roads a little better there.

[Barreis]

Balls are there for sure.. xd

[Sami]

I'm not Anton's biggest fan but I can't agree with you there. I don't expect Anton is slower than Wilson on gravel.

Okay, I respect your opinion, but I do think Wilson would win Anton in similar equipment right now. Probably even in Sweden and Finland and for sure everywhere else..

I do agree with you about Kimi's problems in slower events but I think he will struggle most in dirty tarmac events where there's inconsistent grip. For example Germany might prove too much of a challenge for him, I quess...

[Josti]

Okay, I respect your opinion, but I do think Wilson would win Anton in similar equipment right now. Probably even in Sweden and Finland and for sure everywhere else..

On what basis? The two never competed in similar equipment at the same rally!

Alén was quite impressive with the Impreza back in 2006 and with his few WRC experience ran pretty good again at the last Rally Finland, even though he couldn't really top Hanninen. Despite the connection, the Fiat Punto is not the right car for Alén IMO (let alone the Punto is way over it's peak).

In four years of being a fulltime WRC driver, Wilson took only 3 stage wins. The only thing you can grant him is that he's consistent, but that's mainly due to his conservative way of driving which isn't really getting him anywhere. Wilson is nothing special and never will be, he takes his points because of the car and the lack of competition.

I even think Kimi will beat him on speed more than once next season.

[bluuford]

I would be pleasantly surprised if he could outpace Wilson in 2010 anywhere. Best chances he has I think in Catalunya, where the road is easy, smooth, wide and clean (mostly) and stages are driven several times. The cirquit event like route where even 2wd cars have been competitive could be closest to his own area.

The biggest challenge to him is not the pace notes or gravel but the fact that in rallying you drive 400kms of road you can't remember when in cirquit racing you drive a short route you remember every inch of it and create a perfect lap that you try to do over and over again consistently.

In rallying you just have to react to unknown situations, slippery places, visually confusing corners that seem different at first that they really are (faster or slower than they seem) and you have only one (nowadays sometimes 2) chance to do it right and then there is the next corner and the next... In every corner there's a surprise waiting as on cirquit you don't have that unknown factor at all.

The marginals in rallying are much smaller and that is why I predict a lot of accidents if he tries to beat Wilson from the beginning. If you have in F1 maybe 15 different corners, so 15 different places you have to get right, in rallying there's thousands and that is the difference in requirements for the drivers.

Still I think he has a chance to do well, he comes from a rallying family, ha has been involved in rallying for a long time and driven on loose a lot (even though I remember an old video where he competed in rallycross with his old father and brother and was beaten by both of them!).

In NORF Kimi did well, but not that well. He beat Alén on some stages, but never Hänninen. Would Alén beat Wilson in wrc, never! On SS2 in NORF Kimi already was close to roll where I was watching and the on Väärinmaja he rolled in my place, I knew it would happen and it did, that place was just too difficult to his experience and driving skills.

But he has potential for sure, nobody knows how much, but if he beats Wilson from the beginning, I am positively surprised.

You seem to be a "class half empty" kind of person:-) I have seen videos how he is driving and I would say that he is going to beat Wilsow in every rally as long as he is going to stay on the road. He has done some motocross and quite some rally practicing as well. And he is the person whom you can describe that he is fast straight out of the box. He just needs to find the stability and learn how to listen codriver. And he has the best practice planned for that learning (Arctic rally).
written by: "Class half full" person.

[Daniel]

I think Sami is more of a glass is half missing guy. The Grande Punto is nowhere near as quick as the other cars so the best Kimi could hope for was to beat Alen. Wilson is **** and if by the end of the season if Kimi is not kicking his butt then Kimi is also ****. I don't see this happening though.

[macksrallye]

I think the key for Kimi is to make sure he gets as many km's under his belt as possible without taking stupid risks in the first half of the season. Once he has some experience & confidence then he can start to attack & we could see some very interesting results.

[Rallyper]

I think the pacenotes are important but not that important. Remember Tommi M´s pacenotes? Not much was said from his codriver on the stages, and if you decreases the information I think a good driver (which Kimi is) could do well anyway.

[tmx]

????????

Perhap its not the quantity, but quality.

[Simmi]

I think people aren't taking into account the concept of pure natural talent. If Kimi is a fast learner then I expect him to be right up there.

I know this isn't a great comparison for the rally stages but you see events like the Race of Champions where guys can get into a rally car for the first time and just be fast. A few times a total WRC novice has beaten a top-class rally driver. I think Kimi has this kind of talent/car control. So with some good test km's and an experienced co-driver I think he could be fighting for 5th/6th before too long.

[Alvaro_Rally]

I think good drivers are the same good in a F1 or a WRC car.

For sure Kimi won´t win next year WRC title but i think he will have a very good pace.

[Barreis]

He'll have good fun until he finds good F1 job again..

[Boudica]

But the Citroen World Rally Team chief told France's Auto Hebdo: "We are not asking for the impossible for a first season, but it is clear that if he progresses and shows the right level then he could slot into the first team (in 2011)."

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/091207142520.shtml

[Sami]

I think good drivers are the same good in a F1 or a WRC car.

For sure Kimi won´t win next year WRC title but i think he will have a very good pace.

But that just isn't the case.

Of Finnish f1 drivers everyone have driven rally too:

Leo Kinnunen: Average on cirquit, good in rally
Keke Rosberg: Good on cirquit, poor in rally (at later age)
J.J Lehto: Good on cirquit, good in rally
Mika Häkkinen: Great on cirquit, poor in rally
Mika Salo: Good on cirquit, average on rally
Kimi Räikkönen: great on cirquit, good in rally

So it differs a lot, for example comparing Mika Häkkinen and J.J. Lehto is interesting, Mika is considered better in F1, but J.J totally outpaces Mika in rallying, that is about 3 - 5 seconds a km in similar car!

I think the correlation of F1 speed to Rally speed is about the same as correlation of badminton ability to tennis ability, if you got racket play skills you could be better than average in the other sport, but diving a bit deeper from the basics of the sport requires a lot of things you gotta be able to learn away from, for example using your wrist compared to not using your wrist at all, in rallying using slides and force direction of acceleting wheels towards the aimed direction compared to formula 1 where that is just what you shouldn't do.

A perfect performance in rallying is total catastrophe in f1 and vice versa, techniques are just opposite to each other...

[Sami]

And still it is interesting that my replies are totally misunderstood,

I said that I look forward to Kimi's true potential as his first rally performances have been amazing, but I just tried to explain why I don't think he will win Wilson.

In my opinion he shouldn't aim to that, I mean, Wilson has driven wrc for years professionally and is consistent and very fast. People just get confused of that as they don't see the sharpness of competition at the top level. The level of competition has decreased quantitatively but definitely not qualitatively, I mean if there were 10 more wrc's, he would probably still be about seventh in the championships!

[Simmi]

I think a lot of people would disagree with you when you say the WRC competition hasn't decreased in quality.

There is now a huge gulf between the top works drivers and some of the pay drivers. If you put Matty back (with his current skill level) to 2003 I don't see him finishing about seventh.

[Josti]

In my opinion he shouldn't aim to that, I mean, Wilson has driven wrc for years professionally and is consistent and very fast. People just get confused of that as they don't see the sharpness of competition at the top level. The level of competition has decreased quantitatively but definitely not qualitatively, I mean if there were 10 more wrc's, he would probably still be about seventh in the championships!

Funniest post ever.

[Helstar]

I mean, Wilson has driven wrc for years professionally and is consistent and very fast
Ye, very consistent since he just cruises around ... "very fast" ? FAIL

[GallardoGT]

If I may add something to Sami's comparison badminton/tennis:

What about the background of Loeb as a former turn atletic and the skills he has for balancing the C4 hè, hè!

What can be said about the driving style of Kimi in F1, has he some extra drift skills for example like Alesi or is he more a clean driver?
Don't know because I don't watch F1 since a lot of years.

[RS]

If I may add something to Sami's comparison badminton/tennis:

What about the background of Loeb as a former turn atletic and the skills he has for balancing the C4 hè, hè!

What can be said about the driving style of Kimi in F1, has he some extra drift skills for example like Alesi or is he more a clean driver?
Don't know because I don't watch F1 since a lot of years.

Kimi liked a pointy car with a loose rear end in F1. I think Kimi is classed as an attacking driver compared to "smooth" Jenson Button for example.

[Sami]

Probably yes, but that doesn't matter,

as in f1 sliding around is wrong in every case. Technically oversteering f1 doesn't mean at all what means an oversteering rallycar, as the real end is out of friction circle i.e. sliding all the time and in formula1 you usually end up spinning if you loose the grip from rear.

[Sami]

Ye, very consistent since he just cruises around ... "very fast" ? FAIL

Very fast probably compared to most of the local heroes national championships around the world...

I checked some statistics, and for example losing 0,6 seconds per kilometre as Wilson did in Poland this year to the winner is really not much!

For example in 2005 in similar rallies that could have put him

- to fourth in Sardinia just before Markko Märtin.

- fighting for fourth place with Loeb, Gardemeister and Rovanperä in Mexico

- fourth in Turkey fighting with Carlos Sainz

So not so bad as you think...

[Boudica]

Kimi liked a pointy car with a loose rear end in F1. I think Kimi is classed as an attacking driver compared to "smooth" Jenson Button for example.

It is true, Kimi likes a very responsive front end. In F1 he tries to drive in straight lines as much as possible, after corner entry he tries to straighten the car as fast as possible. He does this by balancing the car very finely through mid corner. Kimi has always had fantastic balance in the car.

He has an oversteering driving style, as he steers the car with the rear end. He can also life with mild understeer as long as the front end remains pointy, and he struggles with cars that changes direction slowly or difficultly. But according to the Ferrari engineers the more oversteer they could dial in the faster Kimi went.

In F1 oversteer and understeer are very relative terms, drivers always strive for a neutral setup, driving with oversteer is more of a risk then the other driving styles.

[Helstar]

Very fast probably compared to most of the local heroes national championships around the world...
I checked some statistics, and for example losing 0,6 seconds per kilometre as Wilson did in Poland this year to the winner is really not much!
For example in 2005 in similar rallies that could have put him
- to fourth in Sardinia just before Markko Märtin.
- fighting for fourth place with Loeb, Gardemeister and Rovanperä in Mexico
- fourth in Turkey fighting with Carlos Sainz
So not so bad as you think...
2005 ? Wtf are you saying dude :D ? Get real ! He wasn't there and you can't write but IF he was .. then... ! Just look what he has achieved when he WAS in ... ! NOTHING ! Not even a podium with 90% less good drivers compared to the past !
I only remember the 2007 GB (I think) as a good performance. One rally over half an hundred, not bad ye.

[Daniel]

2005 ? Wtf are you saying dude :D ? Get real ! He wasn't there and you can't write but IF he was .. then... ! Just look what he has achieved when he WAS in ... ! NOTHING ! Not even a podium with 90% less good drivers compared to the past !
I only remember the 2007 GB (I think) as a good performance. One rally over half an hundred, not bad ye.
Hey Helstar! Lay off Mattie! He's got another 5 year plan :) Stay in the WRC for another 5 years, waste a drive which could catapult a genuinely talented Brit into the limelight and have tonnes of coverage which makes him out to actually be talented. Sami, I thought you were a Finn? I didn't realise you lived in the UK and watched nothing but repeats of World Rally on Dave day in and day out. IMHO this is the only way you could have come to the conclusion that Wilson is anything but a neverwas and neverwillbe.

[jas123f1]

I really don't get all the moaning these days, it's a shame people can't be a bit more supportive when we've yet to see what he can(/cannot?) so. He is already bringing a lot more exposure to the sport and maybe, just maybe, some racing fans will start becoming more and more interested as well.

Good luck to the guy, I hope he enjoys himself at least. But I think asking already for wins is a bit much.

Right..
At least people are interested of him – in the Formula 1 forum has a thread with 35000 views about Kimis future and now this one.. some are moaning..and some like him ..I like Kimi a lot, but understand same time that some people doesn’t - moaning is normally in forums like this.

I like to see Kimi in WRC in a better car than he had in Artic Rally earlier this year.. and since he also has good help from couple of former rally drivers so I think we can wait a good result of him, maybe not any wins (however this year ) because Loeb, Hirvonen and some others are not easy to beat.. but in the points.. and if he take a win 2010 … IF… it would be a smaller miracle.

:)

[Brother John]

I really don't get all the moaning these days, it's a shame people can't be a bit more supportive when we've yet to see what he can(/cannot?) so. He is already bringing a lot more exposure to the sport and maybe, just maybe, some racing fans will start becoming more and more interested as well.

Good luck to the guy, I hope he enjoys himself at least. But I think asking already for wins is a bit much.

I agree with this mesage. :up:

[Sulland]

I think Kimi will surprise us this year - and he has two advantages though:

1. He has the speed.
2. He is not afraid.

[Sami]

IMHO this is the only way you could have come to the conclusion that Wilson is anything but a neverwas and neverwillbe.

Neverwillbe what?

I'm not saying he will win or be champion one day. I'm just saying he is fast, which is relative term of course.

He is son of Malcolm for god's sake! How could you even think of some fairnes?!

It's like saying that I should finance my neighbour's son's rallying not my son's, cause the neighbor quy is a bit faster...

All I'm saying he is a good driver, his driving is sports, not like some other guys whose driving is tourism. And I support tourism too!!!

[Helstar]

I'm just saying he is fast, which is relative term of course.

Compared to a scapegoat yes, he is indeed fast http://im0.freeforumzone.it/up/13/76/416964152.gif

Einstein, I adore you :D relativity law rules !

[JFL]

If he gets a regular top 5-ish finnish, it just tells more about the wrc then about him.. World Rally Championship...haha..
I'm not saying he can't drive, but he'll never place that high in a PWRC or national championship the first year..
I still think it's great that he joins..

[Schurke]

The proof is in the pudding !
Let´s wait and see how he does.

IMHO Kimi will finish above Matt Wilson more times in the season than vice versa.

[Koppomsbo]

I'm not saying he can't drive, but he'll never place that high in a PWRC or national championship the first year..


Wasnt he place higher that fifth when left early in Rally Finland?

[Daniel]

Wasnt he place higher that fifth when left early in Rally Finland?
And the Abarth was far from the best S2000 car out there.

[JFL]

Wasnt he place higher that fifth when left early in Rally Finland?
And if you can give me the number of s2000 cars?( I don't count them as PWRC..

EDIT: Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it was only 5 S2000 cars entered in Rally Finland..

[Simmi]

And if you can give me the number of s2000 cars?( I don't count them as PWRC..

5 S2000 cars on the event. Really just Tuohino, Hanninen and Alen to compare him against though.

[Sami]

NORF09 was not a pWRC rally and also finnish top drivers of group N were not there, so actually rather than sayning he was third in s2000 category when he rolled I would say, he was the last of s2000 cars.

Saying that, I still have to admit that being in front of Patrick Flodin's group N Subaru was a positive surprise for me.

All the other remaining group n drivers were tourists...

[cali]

NORF09 was not a pWRC rally and also finnish top drivers of group N were not there, so actually rather than sayning he was third in s2000 category when he rolled I would say, he was the last of s2000 cars.

Saying that, I still have to admit that being in front of Patrick Flodin's group N Subaru was a positive surprise for me.

All the other remaining group n drivers were tourists...

Right, as I remember Tänak (no tourist) was also in front of him before crashing out due to suspension failure.

[Daniel]

NORF09 was not a pWRC rally and also finnish top drivers of group N were not there, so actually rather than sayning he was third in s2000 category when he rolled I would say, he was the last of s2000 cars.

Saying that, I still have to admit that being in front of Patrick Flodin's group N Subaru was a positive surprise for me.

All the other remaining group n drivers were tourists...
And Sami, where would you rate the Grande Punto in comparison with the other S2000 cars that were in that rally?

[Boudica]

Q&A with Kaj Lindstrom

Having spent the 2002 and 2003 seasons co-driving for multiple champion Tommi Makinen at the Subaru World Rally Team, Kaj Lindstrom knows what it’s like to work in the spotlight. Next year the Finn returns to a full-time WRC drive alongside another superstar - Kimi Raikkonen.

Since 2003, Lindstrom has co-driven for a number of privateer drivers in the WRC, but none as high profile as Raikkonen, who he first partnered on the F1 star's rally debut - the 2009 Finnish championship Arctic Rally.

Since then Lindstrom, 41, has co-driven for Raikkonen on two other non-championship events - Finland's Rally of Mikkeli and the asphalt Rally della Marca in Italy - as well as the WRC Rally Finland.

As he prepares for his return to the WRC at the top level, Lindstrom talked to wrc.com about the challenge ahead.

You last drove a full WRC season in 2003, how does it feel to be coming back at this level?
"It's good to be back, and especially with this kind of driver, when you can see there is potential there. I've driven with many different types of competitor, from 'gentleman' drivers to those wanting to prove their potential. Kimi definitely has the potential to be fast and, as a co-driver, that makes it more interesting to do your work. I'm really looking forward to it now."

You and Kimi are yet to drive the Citroen C4 WRC, when will you get the chance?
"Well, we are planning to test before the Arctic Rally in January, but that hasn't yet been agreed. We are both going to see Citroen Sport in Paris at the beginning of January to do the seat fitting and so on. At that meeting we expect to agree the test dates."

All your rallies together so far have been in a Super 2000 Abarth. How difficult do you think it will be for Kimi to adapt to a World Rally Car?
"It will be different for sure, but whether Kimi will find it difficult I don't know. He's used to a driving a Formula One car which, I would say, is a step higher than any other car. He's used to 700bhp through the rear wheels, so if he can cope with that then dealing with half the power - unfortunately - though four wheels should be okay. Yes, there is a gap between a Group N or Super 2000 car and a World Rally Car, but I don't think it’s a step which will be difficult for him to take."

You've driven with Kimi on snow, tarmac and asphalt. Which of the rallies in 2010 do you think will be toughest for him to adapt to?
"I think they will all be difficult, there no point in saying otherwise, because they will all be new to him. Maybe the hardest will be the rough rallies like Turkey, where he will have to find the limit of the car. He needs to discover just how strong they are, and what they are capable of surviving. There's a limit for Super 2000 and Group N cars beyond which you'll break the car. But it’s a different story with World Rally Cars. Obviously you can break them as well - but not that easily."

And which do you think he'll do best on?
"It's hard to say, but obviously tarmac is the surface that he's most familiar with. I'm really looking forward to sitting with him on those events."

http://www.wrc.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=101&id=6612&desc=Q&A%20with%20Kaj%20Lindstrom

[Boudica]

Scott Garrett, a director at London-based sponsorship consultancy Synergy, says luring a champion from Formula One could help World Rally discover a winning formula of its own.

"The current drivers don't have the same media equity as Raikkonen, but they do have the same skill and what he can do is attract attention to a sport that otherwise wouldn't get it," he says. "If he does that, those other drivers will benefit—and I think that's what will happen, especially if he starts winning."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704240504574586241297896588.html?m od=googlenews_wsj&am p;utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704240504574586241297896588.html?m od=googlenews_wsj&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter)

[Tom206wrc]

First I was thinking: good for the media coverage of WRC to have Kimi in the sport, but then I learnt Schumacher would return to F1...and then that's another thing !!! :rolleyes:

[Gard]

then we have too get schumi to wrc. Someone should tell him that his driving skills is no good and that he never will cut it in wrc

[Lalo]

Kimi did very good in Finland, but isn't too much to make the kump into WRC when he could fight for rally wins in the new SWRC?

[Tomi]

First I was thinking: good for the media coverage of WRC to have Kimi in the sport, but then I learnt Schumacher would return to F1...and then that's another thing !!! :rolleyes:

thats true but Kimi driving in wrc will still mean a big media boost for wrc, it also can bring other interesting things, maybe Kimi and Loeb driving LeMans or simular stuff now when they are in same team.

[Koppomsbo]

Q&A with Kaj Lindstrom




"Well, we are planning to test before the Arctic Rally in January, but that hasn't yet been agreed. We are both going to see Citroen Sport in Paris at the beginning of January to do the seat fitting and so on. At that meeting we expect to agree the test dates."

http://www.wrc.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=101&id=6612&desc=Q&A%20with%20Kaj%20Lindstrom

Any news on when the test will be

[Hartusvuori]

Any news on when the test will be

Like said: "We are both going to see Citroen Sport in Paris at the beginning of January to do the seat fitting and so on. At that meeting we expect to agree the test dates."

[Koppomsbo]

And i know also know that things that is printed out in media and what is acctualy true can be to diffrent things

[Xsara Fan]

Any news on when the test will be

I talk with PH-Sport and guys said 3 things:
1. PH-Sport will work with Kimi in WRC 2010.
2. For the moment there are no any dates of the tests.
3. PH-Sport doesn`t know how many drivers will work with them in 2010. There may be some surprises...

[Boudica]

From Autosprint magazine:


Did he do the right thing?
The question is on everyone's lips: did he do well? Has Kimi Raikkonen left F1 for boredom, nausea, saturation, lack of results? No. At least not only. "For two years he has spoken to go to rallies," says Stefano Domenicali, the man who has inherited from Jean Todt the helm of Ferrari and who has ended up with the 'hot potato' Kimi. A pilot who had no further desire, despite the Drivers Title finally reached in 2007. "Since then he has spoken to me about the rally and how much he wished to do," Domenicali explains, now that Raikkonen is an ex Ferrari driver, although he is still salaried by Ferrari throughout 2010...
Did he do well? "Difficult to say" say the Englishmen. But the person who has the clearest ideas is Gabriele Favero. The soul of the Sernaglia Motoring Club, the Italian friend of all the Finnish rally drivers, has no doubts: "With our common friendship with Tommi Makinen we managed to make him come to race in Treviso, last May, and we all know how it's gone. But it's not the result that counts. What matters was living side by side with Kimi for a week. We played golf together, I personally witnessed a joky car challenge between him and Makinen, such as children. When he is so, Kimi is the easiest person in the world. After retiring, at the Rally of Marca, he said "I am sorry for you". A lovely person. Then, when the journalists arrived, the authorities, the public, he closes himself like a hedgehog, he becomes another person: unfriendly, aloof, even unpleasant." The question comes back: why? "Look at for a moment what Kimi has done and what he is today - continues Favero. "Like all Finns, Hakkinen, Kovalainen, Rosberg and Lehto for example, Kimi has within himself the rally driving on ice, land, open roads. An improvisation driving style. And then, today what is Kimi? A pilot who has won everything and who has gained a lot of money: enough for many children and grandchildren. Given his situation, he must have decided to stop something for which he felt no longer, for something else that he finally desires to be able to do to a high level. And here is the choice less difficult than how it seems from the outside.


Lindstrom
After the official press release of the Citroen, Raikkonen still remained in the shadows. Fortunately there is Kaj Lindstrom speaking in his place, the former navigator of Tommi Makinen and now Kimi's second driver. The two will do, perhaps this week, a test near Jyvaskyla - on the same track where they drove the Grande Punto - to prepare the Artic Rally scheduled for January 29 and that will see their competitive debut on the C4 WRC. The game begins to get serious... "The Arctic is a good opportunity for us - Lindstrom says - because the route is virtually unchanged and we can use the notes of last year, so we can have a comparison. It will be an important check test for the new car, but above all, an excellent training for the Rally of Sweden, that a few weeks later will be the start of our adventure at the World Championship. "How is the Raikkonen rally driver? "In my opinion - says Lindstrom - Kimi has a real talent for the rally. He feels immediately the reactions of the car, and this is part of his baggage, plus he's a high level professional. I was amazed by how he was immediatly fast and strong at the Arctic Rally and at the Rally of Finland. I liked very much for the trajectories, always perfect. Or almost: we stopped because we took a too wide curve!" What was his main problem so far? "Making the notes properly and, above all, listening, driving as I tell him. But this is normal, it is the hardest thing for everyone, even for rallymen." About notes: what system does Kimi use? Like Makinen, since you ran with the four-time world champion? "No. Tommi used the 'descriptive' system, with the plus and the minus to indicate the radius of the curves, Kimi instead uses the most current system of numbers, 1 to 6 from the slowest curve to the fastest."
The adventure begins, then. From a Ferrari's F1 World Champion to an outsider rally driver against a certain Mr. Loeb it will not be an easy thing but Iceman is not afraid... And the others, the real rally drivers, what do they think?



(Courtesy of Tania)

[Boudica]

From an article on this months F1 Racing magazine about Kimi as person and character , in front of 250 Emirates in a special interview.

Asked about the new Abu Dhabi circuit:

"The first part is ok, the rest is a bit shyte "


From Adam Cooper - twitter:

I spoke to Kimi Raikkonen at the weekend about leaving F1 for a new life in the WRC. You can read the results in Autosport mag this week.

[Boudica]

Tommi Mäkinen
"Frankly I am surprised, I thought that he would continue in F1! But he wanted to do the rally, this is his will for a long time, and at the end he did it. I didn’t understand at what level he wants to get, his contract is for one year and I don’t know if it’s enough to reach the top. The rallies are something completely different from what he has done so far. It will be interesting to see what he can do: Kimi is very good, but he doesn’t know the Special Stages. He would need to make more experience with his navigator, should train hard to have the right notes to go to the maximum. Sure, Lindstrom is the right man, but it won’t be easy anyway. Today's rallies are much shorter and tight, with very small gaps. However, I don’t see how Kimi should not succeed even in the rally, if he could beat Hamilton in F1... I'll be in Rovaniemi for his debut with the C4 but then I won't follow him to the races, I'm busy with my team."

Marcus Gronholm
"Big name, Kimi. Good for the rally. He is a pure talent. Of course, it won’t be easy. He can’t learn the Special Stages in a moment. I still believe that he has the right cards to good appear and I see him well, especially on the asphalt. I know he's a silent guy, but I think he will change. I talked to him and he said he is glad, that is one thing he wanted to do. It seems a bit a leap in the dark but in any case the Red Bull brand is both in the rally and in F1...

Mikko Hirvonen
I give him the welcome, I'm happy he comes in the rally. It's a great thing for the category, all media will come and not just the specialized ones. In Finland there is much interest, newspapers and television stations speak about Kimi every day. I don’t know if the first year he will be able to go as we do, it’s too different from F1. But he is focused, and this certainly will help him. I will see better on asphalt than on land, because he has more experience, but I think he wants to go fast everywhere! Sure, it's a bit a leap in the dark, but if it was what he wanted, he was right to do so...

[Boudica]

Why Kimi hasn't spoken about his rally career

Kimi will tell about his testing plans when the year changes and his contract with Ferrari ends.

His contract with the Italian team will keep Kimi's mouth shut until the end of year 2009. He hasn't said much after the news of his switch shocked the motorsport world but the situation will be different in a few weeks.

Kimi has only been able to comment in a limited way about his career.

[jas123f1]

Why Kimi hasn't spoken about his rally career

Kimi will tell about his testing plans when the year changes and his contract with Ferrari ends.

His contract with the Italian team will keep Kimi's mouth shut until the end of year 2009. He hasn't said much after the news of his switch shocked the motorsport world but the situation will be different in a few weeks.

Kimi has only been able to comment in a limited way about his career.

Sure,that way it is, but Ferrari boss has no clause in his contract, he speaks a lot of Kimi (unfortunately mostly b*** s*** ).. :down:

[MJW]

Interview with Kimi here :-
http://www.autosport.com/features/article.php/id/2556

[Barreis]

During the testing with Ferrari The Ice Man was sleeping in the car while Massa and the rest of the squad was together and they didn't like it.. That's why he's out of F1.. Unfortunetly..

[Mia 01]

During the testing with Ferrari The Ice Man was sleeping in the car while Massa and the rest of the squad was together and they didn't like it.. That's why he's out of F1.. Unfortunetly..

Very soon FM will be that to.

[Tomi]

During the testing with Ferrari The Ice Man was sleeping in the car while Massa and the rest of the squad was together and they didn't like it.. That's why he's out of F1.. Unfortunetly..

you forgot to mention that the car was very expensive, that actually nobody can buy such car.

[SubaruNorway]

you forgot to mention that the car was very expensive, that actually nobody can buy such car.

Not sure what you meant with that, but there are private owners of F1 cars. Ferrari sell 4-5 cars every year.

2005 model owned by Norwegian Arne Fredly


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krSco6Kk0Do

[Tomi]

Not sure what you meant with that, but there are private owners of F1 cars. Ferrari sell 4-5 cars every year.

2005 model owned by Norwegian Arne Fredly


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krSco6Kk0Do

I know here is a few F1 cars too, its nothing unusual, the barreis guy is just a cry baby, usually whining that everything is too expensive, this time a made up story that kimi has not done his work properly, witch is offcourse bull.

[Barreis]

I like Kimi's work.. Just don't like Finn cry babies.. XD Better asphalt that roads for French champ!

[jas123f1]

During the testing with Ferrari The Ice Man was sleeping in the car while Massa and the rest of the squad was together and they didn't like it.. That's why he's out of F1.. Unfortunetly..

They didn’t test on same days – but why Kimi should sleep in a car when Felipe had a testing day? :D

[Boudica]

Interview with Kimi in Red bulletin:

http://www.mediafire.com/?yqhlztkdz5j

[Barreis]

They didn’t test on same days – but why Kimi should sleep in a car when Felipe had a testing day? :D

I heard that from a guy who works now for US F1 as a adviser..

[Boudica]

I heard that from a guy who works now for US F1 as a adviser..

Did this person also work for Ferrari?

[Daniel]

I heard that from a guy who works now for US F1 as a adviser..
Wonder if there's a reason that this person is (presumably) gone from a rather successful team and is now working for a team that is just a startup which will probably be consigned to the history books in a few years.

[Tomi]

Did this person also work for Ferrari?

dont belive everything you read, like someone already mentioned, in F1 the drivers have their own testdays.

[Boudica]

dont belive everything you read, like someone already mentioned, in F1 the drivers have their own testdays.

Yes, I know that is what I was getting at, if the person didn't work for Ferrari then he wouldn't know what happen at the launch of the F60.
As mentioned above a move from the Ferrari team to an advisor for USGP sound a bit strange. :-)

[Tomi]

Yes, I know that is what I was getting at, if the person didn't work for Ferrari then he wouldn't know what happen at the launch of the F60.
As mentioned above a move from the Ferrari team to an advisor for USGP sound a bit strange. :-)

Yes, and if something in their agreement would have been undone, Ferrari would not now pay 1 years salary for nothing, thats for sure.
I think now when the contract is over, the provocations from Ferrari side will stop, now miss Montezemolo has a new target as well, Schumi.

[Barreis]

He never worked for Ferrari.. But people talk to each other.. xd

[Brother John]

He never worked for Ferrari.. But people talk to each other.. xd

Yes it is normal that people talk to each other, but a lot of people don´t understand you! :rolleyes:

[Tom206wrc]

For Kimi being WRC champion is better value than F1 champion ???? :confused:
http://www.motorsportblog.it/post/9741/kimi-raikkonen-il-titolo-wrc-varrebbe-piu-di-quello-di-f1/

[Iskald]

For Kimi being WRC champion is better value than F1 champion ???? :confused:
http://www.motorsportblog.it/post/9741/kimi-raikkonen-il-titolo-wrc-varrebbe-piu-di-quello-di-f1/

Could be explained with his national motorsport "pedigree". Remember rallying has always been bigger in Finland than single seater racing. A fast driver in Finland does it on gravel (not the sissy tarmac roundy-roundy thing..!). Just tells you that finns take their rallying really seriously - Kimi included.

[Tomi]

Could be explained with his national motorsport "pedigree". Remember rallying has always been bigger in Finland than single seater racing. A fast driver in Finland does it on gravel (not the sissy tarmac roundy-roundy thing..!). Just tells you that finns take their rallying really seriously - Kimi included.

You are offcourse right, but in a longer interview he did back up his statements too, his attitude is quite healty too, he understand that he is there to learn from 0.
I belive rally is a more interesting sport for drivers in general.
Vettel was here in rallyschool last winter too, his comments after sitting with top driver was "Now I understand, I dont know much about how drive a car yet".

[Rallyper]

Could be explained with his national motorsport "pedigree". Remember rallying has always been bigger in Finland than single seater racing. A fast driver in Finland does it on gravel (not the sissy tarmac roundy-roundy thing..!). Just tells you that finns take their rallying really seriously - Kimi included.

Absolutely! :up:

[Boudica]

For Kimi being WRC champion is better value than F1 champion ???? :confused:
http://www.motorsportblog.it/post/9741/kimi-raikkonen-il-titolo-wrc-varrebbe-piu-di-quello-di-f1/


Kimi has been working towards F1 or a F1 title for most of his life. He has very little experience when it comes to rally, so realistically it will be much more difficult to achieve something in rallying, compared to F1. Because of the bigger challenge and the circumstances he will properly value a WRC title more, if he can achieve something like that.

[OldF]

Henri Toivonen also did a lot of track racing and he wasn’t so bad in rallying either. And I think he had a lot of advantage of track racing experience specially in tarmac rallies.

[N.O.T]

nice publicity for Mr kimi....i bet the "solberg excuses" will start for him too when he realises he is not man enough for rallying.

[Boudica]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEOVjXDI2ec

Kimi playing hockey with EVZ.

[Boudica]

KIMI's RALLY ADVENTURE STARTS WITH A VISIT TO THE FACTORY


Kimi Räikkönen's big WRC-adventure starts next week when the 30-year old Finnish drivers pays a visit to Citroen's factory in France. Making the seat and the first trial with the Citroen C4 -shuttle built for Räikkönen is in the program.

Räikkönen and Kaj Lindström will drive their first rally with Citroen on January 28-30th in Rovaniemi when the duo participates as outsiders to the Arctic Lapland -rally. WRC-rally starts two weeks later in Sweden.

The motorsportworld has already been wondering over how Räikkönen can go to a completely unfamiliar WRC-serie with so little experience. The truth is that Kimi himself is the least worried about it.

Räikkönen doesn't belong to those drivers who need to sit for five days in the car just so that they get to know it. As a fullblooded professional he takes the bull by it's horns immediately and goes to check out how far his own pace takes him.

Those who know Räikkönen better praises him telling he is now more relaxed than he has ever been during his whole F1-career. Kimi is practically bursting with enthusiasm now that he gets to go driving again.

First he checks out his own pace

Red Bull owns a F1-team but on the rally-side they are just Citroen's close partner. Citroen runs racing teams. Red Bull pays Kimi's salary just like Red Bull pays Sebastian Vettel's and Mark Webber's salaries in F1.

Red Bull's magazine went to see Kimi Räikkönen some time ago at his home in Switzerland. Kimi was as usual very straightforward when talking about his expectations.

__________________________

VETTEL WANTS HIS F1-FRIEND BACK


Kimi Räikkönen says in Red Bulletin -magazine's interview that he hopes Sebastian Vettel wins the WDC in F1. When rallies and GP's are at the same time for 10 weekends, we will probably not see Räikkönen on the F1-paddock but Monaco GP is free for rally drivers and that's when he would have an opportunity to be there.

Vettel said to La Gazzetta dello Sport that he misses Kimi in F1-races.

– I'm sure Kimi had his own reasons for going to rally. I'm sure that he made the best choice when thinking from his own point of view. I really like the guy and it's a shame that he isn't in the GP's this year. Kimi is still one of the best drivers and it would have been great to race against him.

– On the other hand at the same time all our F1-drivers interest towards rally grows more than ever. Now we can see for ourselves if it's possible that a F1-driver can also be successful in the top of rally.

– I still hope that this wasn't Kimi's final choice, Vettel sighs.

It still is an option that Vettel and Räikkönen would drive as team mates in Red Bull in 2011.

(Translation thanks to Nicole)

[Boudica]

For almost a decade, the name ‘Kimi’ has been shorthand for outrageous F1 speed and car control. This year, with a switch to the Red Bull Junior World Rally Team, he reckons he’s taken on the biggest challenge of his career...



http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/656/web3469443.jpg


The arrival of Räikkönen is a huge coup for the World Rally Championship: for all his occasionally mute press conference performances, the guy’s a superstar. And while some might question the move from the ‘pinnacle of motorsport’ into a parallel universe of mud and trees and ice and snow rather than lap upon lap of pristine tarmac, the man himself has no doubts: this is a hugely serious attempt on an equally prestigious world series, one which he’ll attack with all the commitment for which he became famed in F1.

So, Kimi, let’s talk dirty. What’s the earliest rally car you can remember?
My brother’s Ford Escort. Of course, as a good Finn, I saw rally cars on TV from an early age. I liked Ari Vatanen and Juha Kankkunen’s Peugeot 205 T16s the best. The first rally I actually went to must have been the 1991 1000 Lakes Rally, which Kankkunen won in a Lancia Delta Integrale.

Were rally drivers your childhood heroes?
I didn’t have any childhood heroes, I was a fan of the sport, not individual drivers. During my childhood, Kankkunen, for example, was a world- class driver so he could have been an idol. I’ve met him since then. He’s still got a Peugeot 205 at home and a Group B Audi Quattro from the 1980s. He might even lend it to me if I asked nicely.

Was it inevitable that you would end up on the racetrack?
I always wanted to give rallying a shot, but I did get into F1 very quickly [Räikkönen was only 21 when he made his F1 debut, for the Red Bull Sauber team at the Australian GP, scoring a point for sixth place]. So it became difficult to move sideways into rallying, which meant I just had to lump it. I didn’t get the chance until very late – I was almost 30 [Räikkönen competed in the 2009 Rally Finland, in a Fiat Grande Punto Abarth]. I also think F1 helps you as a rally driver and vice versa.

But it would be a bit ungrateful to say that you were biding your time for nine years in F1 and had to become World Champion so that you could ultimately become a rally driver?
That’s just how my career has worked out. Now it’s the right time to go for it with the right people and the right car for however long. I did negotiate with another F1 team for next season, but we couldn’t agree 100 per cent. Then Red Bull came and made me an offer to drive in the WRC for a season. It felt like the right thing to do straight away.

A lot of racing drivers in your position would have just bought themselves a world rally car and had some fun in it. But you’ve joined the Citroe?n Junior Team for a whole season where you’ll be up against Sébastien Loeb, the best rally driver in the history of the sport. Haven’t you made things difficult for yourself?
It’s definitely the biggest challenge yet. I’ve got to learn everything from scratch. But I want the challenge. I have to get to know the car, the rallies, how to work with my co-driver [Kai Lindström], everything. I’m looking forward to it. And you’ve got to set yourself some competition if you really want to know how good you are. I’ll still be able to drive around the forest in a private rally car.

But when you entered the WRC last year, at the Rally Finland, it was a much more professional effort compared with other well-known converts.
If you’re going to do something, do it with the best team. My car’s been prepared by Tommi Mäkinen’s team; these guys are super professional. Of course it’s a smaller operation than an F1 team, but they’re professionals. Even though the driver plays a bigger overall role in rallying than in F1, the best driver won’t win in a bad car. That’s why I wanted an experienced co-driver so at least one of us would know what he was doing. I met Kai Lindström through Tommi and we were ice spies for Chris Atkinson during the 2006 Monte Carlo rally. Kai is outstanding; he and Tommi were World Champions together. Kai was also the one to make first contact with Citroën Sport.

Does entering the World Rally Championship feel a bit like it felt when you first test-drove for Sauber F1 in 2000?
Yes, I’m finding a bit of the young Kimi in me again. A world rally car is quicker and tougher than the S2000 car I drove last year on the Rally Finland; it’s 10 times better to drive and has more power. It’s why you can still come out of critical situations. If the Fiat ever went sideways with its non-turbo engine, it was game over.

So what about rolling the car in Finland last year?
It wasn’t because I was going too fast! It was the opposite. The car had already begun falling apart, so I just wanted to get it to the service park. The Fiat definitely wasn’t the quickest car in the S2000 class, nor the most stable. My line going into the left-hand turn was maybe 2m off and we turned over.

Why was your line bad?
I was driving with my eyes and not my ears. But in rallying you’ve got to pay 100 per cent attention to what your co-driver says.

Is that something you still have to learn to do?
It is. The driving itself shouldn’t be too much of a problem. If you know the special stage, there’ll hardly be any difference usually. What makes the difference is the pacenotes [the co-driver’s notes on the road conditions for each stage of the rally] and your trust. That’s my main disadvantage starting out – I only know the Arctic Rally and Rally Finland. I’ve got to work the rest of the events out for myself.

Can you use other crews’ pacenotes?
It’s always better to have your own. If you want to be really fast, you’ve got to have trust. And you’ll never have complete trust in someone else’s notes. Does it help to follow other drivers’ tracks to get your bearings? No. There’s no way of knowing what the car in front of you might have done. You’ve got to do what the co-driver tells you.

[Boudica]

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/1289/22468116152388994915833.jpg

When was your first roll?
I was 14. I rolled my brother’s Lada. We had a 3km track close to home. Marcus Grönholm [Finland’s two-time world rally champion] also trained there. I over-braked the rear axle and rolled twice. The roll-bar [the car’s internal safety cage] also broke.

Your brother Rami was seen as a great rallying talent. Does he still drive?
No, he’s a family man now. One year he was runner- up to Mikko Hirvonen [runner-up in the 2008 and 2009 World Rally Championships].

Have your nephews caught the motorsport bug?
Absolutely! They’re only three and four and they already go karting. I’ve bought them a quad bike.

Are you a good co-driver?
No. I’ve been co-driver to Tommi Mäkinen [four- time World Rally Champion] once. I have complete confidence in him, but I wouldn’t want to repeat the experience. Maybe I’ll sit alongside Loeb during a test. I don’t think he’d do the same for me.

Are you expecting a couple of rolls next year?
Of course. Over the course of the WRC there are bound to be a couple of shunts. Everyone makes mistakes in this sport and, as a rule, a mistake usually means you wreck the car. How many cars must Jari-Matti Latvala [WRC winner] and Hirvonen have destroyed before they won their first World Championship rally? The only driver who hasn’t rolled is Loeb. He’s an exception.

Do you think you’ll be more intuitive on tarmac or gravel surfaces?
We’ve been amazingly fast on gravel, but tarmac will probably be more my thing. Snow will be the hardest. Your lines have got to be spot-on in the snow, whereas on tarmac it’s no big deal if you brake a metre too late and have to turn more sharply. You have to be able to read the gravel. On some types of gravel you’ve got incredible grip with rally tyres and on others you haven’t.

What sort of results are you expecting?
The first few rallies are bound to be tough. Until I know how fast the other drivers are, I’m holding back on any personal expectations. I’m sure I won’t manage to keep up with the top four (Loeb, Dani Sordo, Hirvonen, Latvala).

Your team-mate Sébastien Ogier is also seen as a future star.
Yeah. He’s really good. He’s a perfect yardstick to measure up against.

When you look back on your F1 career, is there a single moment you value above all others?
In F1, every lap is more or less the same. It’s more difficult if it rains, but otherwise it soon becomes routine. In rallying, every corner or hill might be different from what you expected. The most fun I’ve had in recent years was fooling around with friends on snow-scooters, for example. I’d find it difficult to pick a single moment from the last nine years.

How about this as a moment to go down in history? Kimi Räikkönen overtaking Giancarlo Fisichella on the outside at Suzuka on the last lap of the 2005 Japanese GP, to win the race?
Yeah, that was really good.

The 2009 Ferrari must have been really difficult to drive when we see how badly Giancarlo Fisichella struggled when he stepped in for the injured Felipe Massa. Not to mention [Ferrari test driver] Luca Badoer.
The car wasn’t bad. It just didn’t have enough grip. It was hard to drive but I liked the 09 Ferrari more than the 08. I didn’t cope too badly [Räikkönen won the 2009 Belgian GP]. But it made Fisichella age 10 years in two races!

If you couldn’t get a neutrally balanced car, would you prefer oversteer or understeer [a car that has more or less front/rear grip]?
I’ve never liked understeer. How can you push the car if you don’t know whether it’s going to steer? You lose time on a circuit but in rallying, you end up in the trees because you run out of space.

How much communication does motorsport need?
As a driver, there are some things you just can’t communicate. No F1 driver in the world can talk to an aerodynamics engineer on an equal footing because they have completely different levels of understanding. All you can do is tell your race engineer what you’d ideally like. Mechanics are important too but they do what the engineers tell them to. So your communication is limited to two or, at most three, people in the team. And then what’s made of your input depends on the team.

In rallying, you’ll sometimes have to work on the car yourself. Do you know how to?
I enjoy it. In Finland, I’ve always repaired my own cars. I tweak my bikes too. There’s nothing wrong with getting your fingers dirty.

Did you foster the ‘Iceman’ image to survive in F1?
No. ‘Iceman’ goes back a long way. In F1, politics gets in the way of the exciting side of things. The atmosphere in rallying is much nicer and there’s a lot less politics involved. It’s much more about how the driver performs.

You’re a celebrity, especially in Finland. Now that you’re moving over into Finland’s national sport – rallying – you probably won’t dare to go out on the streets of Helsinki at all.
I don’t care about that. It can’t be any worse than it already is. I’ve learned to deal with it.

You did military service. What did you find most difficult about it?
The first couple of months were stressful. We were constantly roared at. By the end we were bored and messed around. Apart from military films where everyone’s roaring, getting up early was the worst.

Rally drivers often have to get up early too.
I know. But I had to get out of bed early for F1 sometimes too. It’s part of the job.

What’s your favourite toy during the off-season?
A snowmobile. It’s huge fun tearing around Lapland with friends on one. But Motocross comes close.

What makes a good road car?
Space.

What’s the last sport you’ve tried?
I started climbing last year on the recommendation of my fitness trainer, and it’s fun.

Who’s going to win ice hockey’s Stanley Cup?
The San Jose Sharks.

Who’s going to win snowboarding Olympic gold in the half-pipe?
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for the Finns, but it’ll probably be hard to beat Shaun White.

Who’s going to be the next World Rally Champion?
Loeb or Hirvonen. Loeb.

And MotoGP?
Have the teams changed much? No. So – Rossi.

Formula One?
Hard to say. I don’t know what Ferrari’s plans are. Mercedes will probably have a good car, so will McLaren. Red Bull Racing probably will too. So I’m going to have to award the title based on who I like: Sebastian Vettel. He’s so down-to-earth.

Do you have much contact with him?
I know Heikki Kovalainen [a fellow Finn] better. As a rule, I don’t have that much contact with people from F1. Sometimes I play badminton with Vettel. He’s moving to my part of Switzerland so we’ll probably see more of each other.

How interested will you be in F1 if you’re not in an F1 car yourself?
I’ll watch a race on TV every now and then. Maybe I’ll go to the Monaco Grand Prix. I could get an F1 drive again any time, but lots of bad things are happening in F1. Manufacturers are pulling out. Let’s have the same conversation in a year’s time. Let’s look way into the future.

What would a WRC title mean to you?
More than my F1 World Championship title. I’m just starting out and I can sense what a long journey it would be to get to that point. No one’s done it before. That’s another thing that makes it interesting.

http://en.redbulletin.com/articles/kimi/

[RS]

I don't think it will necessary follow that Kimi will be better on asphalt rallies than gravel, apart from maybe Catalunya.

Mattias Ekstrom was always impressive in Sweden but he also drove on Rallye Deutschland and wasn't so good there. Ok, he didn't have so much asphalt rally experience but...

I often wonder how much Mikko's asphalt coach can really teach Mikko about driving a World Rally Car on sealed surfaces.

On the other hand Jan Kopecky came from a circuit racing background and I would probably rate him as one of the top 5 asphalt rally drivers in the world.

[Iskald]

nice publicity for Mr kimi....i bet the "solberg excuses" will start for him too when he realises he is not man enough for rallying.
What do you mean by "solberg excuses"? Please enlighten us.

[Koppomsbo]

nice publicity for Mr kimi....i bet the "solberg excuses" will start for him too when he realises he is not man enough for rallying.

No No No...

Dont go there is this tread also :(

[N.O.T]

What do you mean by "solberg excuses"? Please enlighten us.

yes its better not to go there....

[Viking]

[B] Are you expecting a couple of rolls next year?
Of course. Over the course of the WRC there are bound to be a couple of shunts. Everyone makes mistakes in this sport and, as a rule, a mistake usually means you wreck the car. How many cars must Jari-Matti Latvala [WRC winner] and Hirvonen have destroyed before they won their first World Championship rally? The only driver who hasn’t rolled is Loeb. He’s an exception.



Oh yes he has :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXBwdWPfS0I&feature=related

[Rallyper]

nice publicity for Mr kimi....i bet the "solberg excuses" will start for him too when he realises he is not man enough for rallying.

Who´s enough for rallying in your point of view? Would be interesting to hear about that one....

Realise there are circumstances. :mad:

[Rallyper]

Oh yes he has :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXBwdWPfS0I&feature=related

Oh, yes he has... :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoMSDrcSe0k

[N.O.T]

Who´s enough for rallying in your point of view? Would be interesting to hear about that one....

Realise there are circumstances. :mad:

everyone who is in the sport because he wants to make something of it other than get more publicity and sponsor money....

with the flood of these outcasts in our sport, just because they can and the sport doesn;t have a governing body with power to send then back in the cave they crawled out from, i think Wilson is going to get a new fan.

[Guillaumemex]

Oh yes he has :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXBwdWPfS0I&feature=related

No he didn't before He won his first World Championship rally, like says Kimi...

[Rallyper]

everyone who is in the sport because he wants to make something of it other than get more publicity and sponsor money....

with the flood of these outcasts in our sport, just because they can and the sport doesn;t have a governing body with power to send then back in the cave they crawled out from, i think Wilson is going to get a new fan.

Then Kimi is one of your mates after all? (read his interview and you´ll find out he´s a real rallyman with the true goal to be someone in the WRC.)

[Guillaumemex]

No he didn't before He won his first World Championship rally, like says Kimi...
My mistake, I think he has in 2003, but I can't remember what rally was...

[Boudica]

Most Talented Magician: Kimi Raikkonen

While it might be argued that Kimi Raikkonen had one of his worst seasons in Formula One, those inside the Ferrari garage spent most of 2009 secretly wondering exactly how he could make a dog of a car go so fast.

There's no doubt that Raikkonen possesses sublime talent, but his ability to wring every drop of performance out of his car was never more evident. He scored 38 of his 48 points and scored Ferrari's only win of the season in Belgium after the team Ferrari stopped development on the 2009 car in July to concentrate on next year's challenger.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive...article1415643/ (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/new-cars/auto-news/it-was-a-very-good-and-bad-year/article1415643/)

[Boudica]

FIA PRESIDENT IS MORE EXCITED OVER KIMI THAN HE IS OVER SCHUMI

Jean Todt thinks that Kimi Räikkönen's move to WRC is this year's most remarkable motorsport-news.

According to Todt even Schumacher's comeback to F1 isn't as big news as Räikkönen going to WRC is.

- To me F1-Champion Kimi Räikkönen going to WRC is even more astonishing than Michael's comeback! It's a really courageous move from him. How competitive will he be compared to experts like Sébastien Loeb, Mikko Hirvonen and Dani Sordo? It is going to be interesting, Todt said in an interview to Le Quotidien -magazine.

Todt wasn't especially surprised over Schumi's contract with Mercedes.

- Having fun with motorbikes didn't seem to be enough for him especially when a big team was asking for him. Of course I hope that he would achieve top results again, Todt said.

(MTV3)(Translation thanks to Nicole)

[Boudica]

CITROEN-BOSS GETS APPLAUDS FOR HIRING RÄIKKÖNEN

Olivier Quesnel has had his share of people tapping him on the back after he hired Kimi Räikkönen.

Even though there is no success in the top to be expected, Räikkönen lifts the visibility of WRC many notches upwards - both in Finland and all over the world. Red Bull's financed Räikkös-purchase has brough a lot of gratitude to Citroen-team's boss.

- Everybody has said that I made the deal of the century. I'm also excited that we got Kimi, Quesnel said.

He will meet Räikkönen personally next week.

Quesnel isn't the only rally boss who has a smile on his face after Kimi moved to rally.

Thanks to Räikkönen and the American star Ken Block, the letter combination WRC will be on the lips of a bigger audience. And that suits North One Sport's Marketing Manager Simon Long well.

- We are very pleased that we have two incredible talents who also are stars worldwide, Long told on WRC-website.

- Along with millions of fans even I am excited when I get to see how Kimi and Ken will get a grip of those different cars and challenging circumstances that makes the WRC-serie the world's most diversed motorsport genre.

Räikkönen has become known due to his F1-achievements but Block has a slighty different background. As an American Block is especially known to the American audience from the extreme-genres.

He has competed with a skateboard, snowboard, motocross-bike as well as with a rally-car.

During seasons 2010 and 2011 Block, 42, will drive part of the WRC-rallies with Ford Focus. He already has experience from a couple of WRC-rallies from earlier years in the N-group.

(Translation thanks to Nicole)

[Leon]

CITROEN-BOSS GETS APPLAUDS FOR HIRING RÄIKKÖNEN

Olivier Quesnel has had his share of people tapping him on the back after he hired Kimi Räikkönen.

Even though there is no success in the top to be expected, Räikkönen lifts the visibility of WRC many notches upwards - both in Finland and all over the world. Red Bull's financed Räikkös-purchase has brough a lot of gratitude to Citroen-team's boss.

- Everybody has said that I made the deal of the century. I'm also excited that we got Kimi, Quesnel said.

He will meet Räikkönen personally next week.

Quesnel isn't the only rally boss who has a smile on his face after Kimi moved to rally.

Thanks to Räikkönen and the American star Ken Block, the letter combination WRC will be on the lips of a bigger audience. And that suits North One Sport's Marketing Manager Simon Long well.

- We are very pleased that we have two incredible talents who also are stars worldwide, Long told on WRC-website.

- Along with millions of fans even I am excited when I get to see how Kimi and Ken will get a grip of those different cars and challenging circumstances that makes the WRC-serie the world's most diversed motorsport genre.

Räikkönen has become known due to his F1-achievements but Block has a slighty different background. As an American Block is especially known to the American audience from the extreme-genres.

He has competed with a skateboard, snowboard, motocross-bike as well as with a rally-car.

During seasons 2010 and 2011 Block, 42, will drive part of the WRC-rallies with Ford Focus. He already has experience from a couple of WRC-rallies from earlier years in the N-group.

(Translation thanks to Nicole)


thanks for the info

[Helstar]

Quesnel ... you didn't hire Kimi, what are you, another Berlusconi ? Taking credits for something you haven't actually done ?

[Boudica]

Apparently Kimi visited the factory yesterday, for the first time.

[J.Lindstroem]

No he didn't before He won his first World Championship rally, like says Kimi...

Oh yes he did! ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etmYkj027F8

(3:12)

[Xsara Fan]

Kimi has first tests with CJT!

http://pull.xmr3.com/cgi-bin/pull/DocPull/525-82112-5FE1/36632177/Kimi_C4WRC_01.JPG

http://pull.xmr3.com/cgi-bin/pull/DocPull/525-82112-AA24/36632589/Kimi_C4WRC_02.JPG

http://pull.xmr3.com/cgi-bin/pull/DocPull/525-82112-31B5/36643763/Kimi_03.JPG

http://pull.xmr3.com/cgi-bin/pull/DocPull/525-82112-54E4/36708130/Kimi_02.JPG

[Julle69]

Oh yes he did! ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etmYkj027F8

(3:12)

Now it's proven that Loeb really rolled before his first win. The first win for Loeb was later in year 2002 (Germany).

[Francis44]

Looking good, I hope he can fight for top 5.

[Boudica]

Kimi has first tests with CJT!

http://pull.xmr3.com/cgi-bin/pull/DocPull/525-82112-5FE1/36632177/Kimi_C4WRC_01.JPG

http://pull.xmr3.com/cgi-bin/pull/DocPull/525-82112-AA24/36632589/Kimi_C4WRC_02.JPG

http://pull.xmr3.com/cgi-bin/pull/DocPull/525-82112-31B5/36643763/Kimi_03.JPG

http://pull.xmr3.com/cgi-bin/pull/DocPull/525-82112-54E4/36708130/Kimi_02.JPG

Thanks :D

The new helmet looks nice.


"I very much enjoyed meeting the team properly for the first time," he said.

"It was good to try out a few different things; I was very interested to see how the car reacted when you changed some of the settings.

"Now I'm really keen to get back behind the wheel of the C4 again."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80847

[rv65]

The Helmet is the new Stilo WRC helmet for 2010. It has a new mic design and it uses a DES visor design. All drivers in 2010 must wear a 8860-2004 certified helmet and this helmet meets this spec. It's probably the only open face rally helmet that meets this standard. The ST4R helmet that Loeb wore in 2009 was believed to be 8860 certified. The ST4R is 8860-2004 certified.

You can buy it at most stores now that sell Stilo helmets.

[tmx]

because they can and the sport doesn;t have a governing body with power to send then back in the cave they crawled out from, i think Wilson is going to get a new fan. In that case the FIA sure sent Loeb back to where cave he crawled from by denying him a super license.

Will you guys stop quoting N.O.T. I really don't want to read his inane comments.

[Daniel]

In that case the FIA sure sent Loeb back to where cave he crawled from by denying him a super license.

Will you guys stop quoting N.O.T. I really don't want to read his inane comments.
You can't tell people what to do and what not to do if they are doing things by the forum rules. Grow up.

[Boudica]

Loeb: Welcome Räikkönen!

Rally's six-time champion Sébastien Loeb welcomes Kimi Räikkönen to the Citroën team.

Räikkönen will be competing in the coming season in Citroën's Junior Team. Citroën's factory team's first driver Loeb is waiting for the F1-star's first season in WRC with excitement.

- It will be interesting. This is an entirely new sport for him so the beginning can be quite difficult. There is a lot to learn but taking account his skill-level I believe the adaptment will happen pretty quickly, Loeb said in French Sports.fr-site's interview.

There will be three tarmac rallies in the coming WRC-season. Loeb doesn't believe though that Räikkönen is that strong due to his background in track-racing.

- I don't think he will do better in tarmac just because he comes from Formula One, especially because Finns are usually good at gravel. Any way, it's a pleasure to welcome him to the team, Loeb continued.

_________________

RED CHEEKS


During Ferrari's media happening in the Dolomites they work and keep the cheeks red while having fun in the snow in a less formal way than during the actual F1-season. At least the colour suits the Ferrari-theme well.

There was a lot of Spanish, Italian and Brazilian media, a few Brits and Germans - and one Finn.

The surprise was quite big when during the dinner on Wednesday Stefano Domenicali came to say hello and asked if I could write in Turun Sanomat that he is sure that Kimi Räikkönen will be fast also in the WRC-serie.

Domenicali told that he had called Räikkönen after his first Citroen-test and sensed his enthusiasm of this new challenge.

Heikki Kulta

(Translations thanks to Nicole)

[curry]

Apparently Kimi visited the factory yesterday, for the first time.

And if you believe what Ferrari said about Kimi, this will probably be his only visit! :p :

[Boudica]

RALLY PROFESSIONALS: RÄIKKÖNEN WILL FACE A KNOCK-OUT IN THE WRC-SERIE!
Torstai 14.1.2010 klo 23.44

If someone has seriously thought that Kimi Räikkönen will drive for the WRC-title with Citroën's WRC-machinery in 2010 he will have to wake up to the reality in February at the latest when the season begins.

- I estimate that Kimi will be 10-12 minutes behind the lead in Jordania, Latvala tells VM.

According to Latvala Räikkönen will lose to the fastest aces 10 minutes in every rally except in a few rallies.

Mikko Hirvonen is slightly more optimistic than his team mate. He thinks Kimi will lose about 4-6 minutes but might battle for a podium position in a few rallies.

- In Spain Kimi will drive to the podium or at least fight for it. The difference to the lead is about 2-3 minutes, that is Hirvonen's estimation for Räikkönen's star moment.


(Translation thanks to Nicole)

[Langdale Forest]

I think kimi will do reasonably well in the WRC.

There is less chance of him melting there.

[Langdale Forest]

yes its better not to go there....


Now why is it?

[Boudica]

CASE-RÄIKKÖNEN REQUIRES A LOT OF TEST KILOMETERS

The Kimi Räikkönen -rally project that started last year has according to Tommi Mäkinen been an extremely interesting and rewarding experience.

- When we got Kimi's car from Fiat Abarth we had to really wonder what kind of a green fruit they sent us. It was an incomprehensible half-finished car when it came to setups.

According to Tommi they had to drive Fiat 'into shape' for nearly 500 test-kilometers.

- I knew after driving a F1-car myself from what kind of a world Kimi came to rally from and also to what kind of driving style he was used to. I wanted to build the Fiat so that it fit him like a glove from the beginning.

- Kimi was reasonably satisfied with his car, there wasn't any need for any bigger setups after that. I was also really satisfied with the endresult especially when considering the starting points.

Tommi who has followed Kimi drive from close for a year says that the F1-champion can drive any car really fast.

- He is also a rally-talent, you don't get over that no matter how you try. And the more he had kilometers behind him, the more he got confidence and speed. Kimi's note paces still need experience so that he will be able to take everything out of it.

Tommi thinks that Räikkönen doesn't have to drive many rallies on tarmac before he already is in the leading groups.

- I think that in the first rally on tarmac Kimi will cut in straight away ahead of Matthew Wilson, Henning Solberg and others up to 5th or 6th overall. Unfortunately Kimi's only rally on tarmac went bad right from the start when we got a gearbox from Italy that was wrongly assembled. Parts were missing and it broke down at the first stage.

- With a competitive car Kimi could do reasonably well in WRC but he still has some way to the victory. Only after he knows exactly the nature of the car and how it wants to behave in different situations and the pace notes are in place, only then can he start to fight for the last tenths of seconds that decide the WRC-victory.

Fiat's S2000-car was also really part-consuming so it wasn't any cheap hobby for Räikkönen.

- When I followed the running costs of S2000-Fiat I saw that you could easily drive three N-group -drivers with the same money, Tommi smiles.

Yet Räikkönen's Fiat was going well and this was also noticed in Fiat Abarth.

- They asked quite a lot from Fiat about what had been done to the car and where. I didn't tell them anything about that side. I only wondered since one assumes that engineers from a team of that level should know cars and that setups are always individual. A rally car is a unity where power transfer -setups go together with suspension, stabilizers, tyrecorners etc. It's not even worth to start explaining one single thing to anyone on the phone. It's useless.

(Translation thanks to Nicole)

[Rallyper]

CASE-RÄIKKÖNEN REQUIRES A LOT OF TEST KILOMETERS

The Kimi Räikkönen -rally project that started last year has according to Tommi Mäkinen been an extremely interesting and rewarding experience.

- When we got Kimi's car from Fiat Abarth we had to really wonder what kind of a green fruit they sent us. It was an incomprehensible half-finished car when it came to setups.

According to Tommi they had to drive Fiat 'into shape' for nearly 500 test-kilometers.

- I knew after driving a F1-car myself from what kind of a world Kimi came to rally from and also to what kind of driving style he was used to. I wanted to build the Fiat so that it fit him like a glove from the beginning.

- Kimi was reasonably satisfied with his car, there wasn't any need for any bigger setups after that. I was also really satisfied with the endresult especially when considering the starting points.

Tommi who has followed Kimi drive from close for a year says that the F1-champion can drive any car really fast.

- He is also a rally-talent, you don't get over that no matter how you try. And the more he had kilometers behind him, the more he got confidence and speed. Kimi's note paces still need experience so that he will be able to take everything out of it.

Tommi thinks that Räikkönen doesn't have to drive many rallies on tarmac before he already is in the leading groups.

- I think that in the first rally on tarmac Kimi will cut in straight away ahead of Matthew Wilson, Henning Solberg and others up to 5th or 6th overall. Unfortunately Kimi's only rally on tarmac went bad right from the start when we got a gearbox from Italy that was wrongly assembled. Parts were missing and it broke down at the first stage.

- With a competitive car Kimi could do reasonably well in WRC but he still has some way to the victory. Only after he knows exactly the nature of the car and how it wants to behave in different situations and the pace notes are in place, only then can he start to fight for the last tenths of seconds that decide the WRC-victory.

Fiat's S2000-car was also really part-consuming so it wasn't any cheap hobby for Räikkönen.

- When I followed the running costs of S2000-Fiat I saw that you could easily drive three N-group -drivers with the same money, Tommi smiles.

Yet Räikkönen's Fiat was going well and this was also noticed in Fiat Abarth.

- They asked quite a lot from Fiat about what had been done to the car and where. I didn't tell them anything about that side. I only wondered since one assumes that engineers from a team of that level should know cars and that setups are always individual. A rally car is a unity where power transfer -setups go together with suspension, stabilizers, tyrecorners etc. It's not even worth to start explaining one single thing to anyone on the phone. It's useless.

(Translation thanks to Nicole)

Oh, I love that. It´s finnish sisu. And Tommi is right. Why tell when they dont know by themselves? :D

[Boudica]

RÄIKKÖNEN's YEAR 2010 (VM paper edition)

Mikko Hirvonen (MH) and Jari-Matti Latvala (J-ML) comment on how they think Kimi will do this year rally by rally:

1/13: Sweden's WRC-rally
10.-14.2.
Driving surface: ice/snow

MH:
- Sweden is good and maybe even the best possible place for Kimi to start his WRC-season. The roads are fast and the snow benches forgive small errors - especially if there is enough of snow on the stage.
- 4-5 minutes behind the lead. (5th in 2008)

J-ML:
- Sweden will be a good start for Kimi. He will already have a fresh experience from Arctic rally. But Kimi has to go fast if he is going to do well. If he is about 1,0-1,5 seconds per kilometer behind the lead it is a very good result.
- 6 minutes behind the lead. (6th in 2008)

2/13: Mexico's WRC-rally
3.-7.3.
Driving surface: gravel

MH:
- Mexico might be the most difficult race for Kimi. If he dares to go fast, controls his car and makes it to the finish line without making mistakes it's a great result for a newbie.
- 6 minutes behind the lead. (6th in 2008)

J-ML:
- Mexico is probably the most difficult rally for Kimi. You need experience there.
- 10 minutes behind the lead. (7th in 2008)

3/13: Jordania's WRC-rally
31.3-4.4
Driving surface: gravel

MH:
- Jordania might suit Kimi well because of the good grip. If his setups are in order you just brake and turn into the corner on Jordania's roads, that's why he could get very close to the lead there.
- 4 minutes behind the lead. (3rd in 2008)

J-ML:
- The route could be difficult for Kimi because of the way the tyres get worn out.
- 10-12 minutes behind the lead (5th in 2008)

4/13: Turkey's WRC-rally
14.-18.4
Driving surface: gravel

MH:
- Because the area is new to everyone it also makes Kimi's chances better.
- 4 minutes behind the lead (8th in 2008)

J-ML:
- Kimi is probably in a good speed in Turkey and gets closer to the lead.
- 8 minutes behind the lead (8th in 2008)

5/13: New Zealand's WRC-rally
5.-9.5
Driving surface: gravel

MH:
- If Kimi drives the rally I'm sure he will enjoy the experience.
- 4 minutes behind the lead (6th in 2008)

J-ML:
- If Kimi drives the rally I'm sure he will enjoy the experience.
- 10 minutes behind the lead (10th in 2008)

6/13: Portugal's WRC-rally
27.-20.5.
Driving surface: gravel

MH:
- I think that by Portugal Kimi has learned how to drive on gravel.
- 3-4 minutes behind the lead (5th in 2009)

J-ML:
- This could be a very difficult race for Kimi. Kimi has a top co-driver and his significance will be highlighted in Portugal.
- 10 minutes behind the lead (7th in 2009)

7/13: Bulgaria's WRC-rally
7.-10.7
Driving surface: tarmac

MH:
- I expect a good result from Kimi in Bulgaria because we are all on the same line (new race).
- 4 minutes behind the lead (4th)

J-ML:
- Bulgaria could be one of the best races for Kimi because nobody has any earlier experience from there and I'm sure Kimi drives well on tarmac.
- 5 minutes behind the lead (5th)

8/13: Finland's WRC-rally
29.-31.7
Driving surface: gravel

MH:
- Finland's rally can be difficult for Kimi although he has some experience from it. It's difficult to drive a WRC-car on Mid-Finland's superfast gravel roads really fast. The car has to be perfectly set-up and he has to be able to trust it 100%, otherwise the difference to the lead grows by minutes.
- 5 minutes behind the lead (7th in 2009)

J-ML:
- Finland's rally will be Kimi's second but it's not easy to succeed in Mid-Finland with a WRC-car.
- 6 minutes behind the lead (8th in 2009)

9/13: Germany's WRC-rally
18.-22.8
Driving surface: tarmac

MH:
- Second tarmac-rally for Kimi. If it doesn't rain the result can be good but if it rains it's interesting to see how Kimi controls the constant traction changes.
- 4 minutes behind the lead (6th in 2008)

J-ML:
- It could be a difficult race for Kimi although the surface is tarmac. Audi's DTM-champion Mattias Ekström drove there a couple of years ago and he was in great troubles because of the constantly changing traction.
- 9 minutes behind the lead (13th in 2008)

10/13: Japan's WRC-rally
8.-12.9
Driving surface: gravel

MH:
- Japan might be the best gravel rally of the season for Kimi. When he has got some experience I believe that he will make a good result there.
- 4-5 minutes behind the lead (5th in 2008)

J-ML:
- Japan might be a good race for Kimi. Although he has no experience of this race it doesn't necessarily matter much.
- 7 minutes behind the lead (7th in 2008)

11/13: France WRC-rally
29.9.-3.10
Driving surface: tarmac

MH:
- This race could be the best race of the season for Kimi. He already has experience in driving and making pace notes so he could even drive for the podium.
- 2-3 minutes behind the lead (podium)

J-ML:
- Kimi will improve here after Germany's race but he will still be minutes behind the lead.
- 9 minutes behind the lead

12/13: Spain's WRC-rally
20.-24.10
Driving surface: tarmac

MH:
- I believe that Kimi feels at home on Catalonia's tarmac where he can drive on the line and boldly cut.
- 2-3 minutes behind the lead (he will fight for the podium)

J-ML:
- Last year the stage was precisely the same as it was the year before and if this trend continues it will bring difficulties for Kimi because others know the stage almost by memory.
- 8 minutes behind the lead (8th in 2009)

13/13: Britain's WRC-rally
10.-14.11
Driving surface: gravel

MH:
- Wales can be more difficult for Kimi because here you need experience in order to succeed.
- 6 minutes behind the lead (5th in 2009)

J-ML:
- Because of the difficult driving conditions I predict that Wales isn't any easy rally for Kimi. It's more than slippery.
- 8 minutes behind the lead (7th in 2009)

(Translation thanks to Nicole)

[Boudica]

From Autosprint:

I haven’t shut the door with F1!
After the very first test with the Citroen C4 WRC, Raikkonen… find a way to speak again. And he reveals what his ambitions and plans are.

Kimi Raikkonen talks! Accustomed as we are to the grumblings and the shrugs of the former Ferrari driver, seeing him happy, even enthusiastic, 'almost' talkative, has greatly surprised us. Maybe it's his new rally environment that has made this miracle possible. Or perhaps it’s the result of the first test with the new car, the Citroen C4 WRC, with which he seems to have quickly found a good feeling. Whatever it is, one fact remains and that is that Kimi seems to be transformed. And he doesn’t draw back from our questions, which are not just about rally, but also about many other topics.

- Kimi, what do you think of the C4 after your first test? How did you feel? It was your very first time ever driving a World Rally Car...
"The car is very good. I’ve immediately found a great feeling and I was very impressed by how it reacts to adjustments. Sure, it's quite different from any other rally car I have ever driven before! Even if I didn’t know it, I enjoyed it, I had fun and learned a lot of things."

- All the experts have pointed out that your main problem, apart from that you don’t know the routes, will be learning to listen to the navigator, and establishing a proper system of writing notes...
"I'm constantly learning about the notes and I'm working hard with Kaj. He has a lot of experience and knowledge, and so he is a big help for me. It’s important to have the right notes and I am particularly pleased to have Kaj by my side helping me. He gives me confidence."

- What do you expect for the season, that is going to begin with the Rally of Sweden? Do you think you can immediately aim for success or will your season just be about geting yourself some experience?
I'm preparing to face a great challenge for myself. I have no experience of the world of rallying... Of course I always want to win, but in this case, you must be realistic: I have no other goal than doing my best. Let me see where I will be at the end of season!"

- After the last year races what do you think of Kimi Raikkonen as a rally driver?
"It's better to leave it too others to comments on my performances."

- Have you got an idol to follow among the big rally drivers of yesterday and today?
"No, I haven’t got an idol to follow. But I have the same respect and consideration for the top rally drivers like that I have for the best drivers in F1."

- What kind of opportunities does the participation of Kimi Raikkonen and, even more occasionally, of Valentino Rossi, do for rally?
"For this sport they are a good thing. And I'd love to see Valentino racing in the WRC."

- The question that everyone would ask: Why did you go from F1 to rally?
"I've always been interested in competing in the WRC sooner or later, at some point in my career. I was offered this excellent opportunity by Red Bull. So, why not?"

- Is your choice permanent or may it be that one day we’ll see you back again in F1? Fernando Alonso said at the Ferrari meeting at Madonna di Campiglio you're a natural talent and it is a shame to see you go away...
- "I have not closed the doors to F1. I spent nine years of my life in this sport and I really have some good memories. I will make a decision in the middle of this year. Then I’ll decide whether to stay and compete in rallying or whether I would return to F1 Grand Prix."

(Translation thanks to TaniaS)

http://cid-23b1abff33cab8a4.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Articoli%20Stampa/Autosprint%202010/AS3-19gen2010.jpg

[Boudica]

KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN's BIG BROTHER: I SHOULD GET TO THE FINISH LINE


Kimi's big brother Rami Räikkönen has more rally-background than his little brother Kimi has. In 2001 Rami was 3rd in the N-group in Finland's rally. He got national silver in 2003.

Rami will take part in the Arctic Rally with kimi's old car Super 2000 -luokan Fiat Grande Punto.

– I haven't rallied other than in some village races. It's an interesting project. I went to test the car for one day in Mid-Finland and it is a racing car compared to the other cars I have had.

Rami is going to enjoy the rally without any goals.

– I should try to get to the finish line. I haven't drove pace note -races for a while but I'm going there for my own pleasure to enjoy. Others can put goals.

Rami might also take part in other rallies this year.

– Let's see what's left of the car after Arctic Rally. I haven't registered to the national serie.

Räikkönen-brothers haven't at least yet given any rally-tips to each others.

– We have talked about it a few times with Kimi. I think Kimi is waiting eagerly for the rally.

Rami has two boys and it's possible that we will see more Räikkönen's in the top of motorsport.

– The boys are four and five this year. The older one has already drove in karting for a couple of summers. They don't talk about anything else than cars and engines. The boys will also go to the north with us and they are asking all the time 'When are we going to Lapland'.
(Translation thanks to Nicole)

http://www.mtv3.fi/ohjelmat/sivusto2008.shtml/viihde/f1_backstage/taustaa_uutiset?1038620

[miksu]

According to MTV3 Kimi is testing his C4 today and tomorrow somewhere in Finland, i guess on the same roads he has been testing last year. Would be nice to see some video and pics of his tests.

[Boudica]

Kimi Räikkönen got a good starting number to Arctic Lapland. He is going to take off right after his team mate Dani Sordo.

After Sordo and Räikkönen the N-group's top names will take off starting with Juha Salo. Räikkönen's starting number is excellent unless it's snowing.

- If there is even a 5 cm more new snow it's going to be hopeless and everybody would want to have five cars in front to clear the road. If the conditions are ideal the starting order has no meaning, Heikki Poranen said.

The other A-group cars leave after the N-group. A completely new class was made up for Räikkönen and Sordo because the other WRC-cars aren't anymore according to the international standards.

(Translation thanks to Nicole)

[tmx]

Thanks for all the info. It seem Jari is really doubting Kimi for the first year. I hope Kimi doesn't prove him wrong by beating him in a tarmac event. Kimi could get some podium place and a win in 2009 with a not very good car, now he is in a Citroen. I hope he will do well anyway, just to make the championship more interesting.

[Boudica]

Team Principal: Everybody will get surprised over Kimi!
22.01.2010 22:45

Olivier Quesnel thinks that Kimi Räikkönen will surprise in WRC.

- Kimi does his job seriously. We will have to wait 4-6 rallies but in the end of the year he will be very fast, Quesnel said in rally radio's interview.

- Everybody will be surprised over Kimi. We will find a new Kimi in rally. He will enjoy it, Quesnel promises.

MTV3 – Jani Merimaa

(Translation thanks to Nicole)

[muscrae]

Do you think that Kimi is a regular WRC driver from now on? Allright, don't be sure :)

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/156173/1/kimi_raikkonen_the_door_to_f1_is_still_open.html

[Boudica]

TEAM MATE COMES TO FINLAND TO WATCH KIMI DRIVE

23.01.2010 09:11


French driver Sébastien Ogier will travel to Lapland next weekend to watch Kimi Räikkönen's debut with Citroën's WRC-car.

Ogier and Räikkönen haven't yet met each other.

- I will meet him next weekend in Arctic-rally. I'm there as a spectator. After the rally we have tests, Ogier told MTV3.

Ogier was Mikko Hirvonen's biggest threath in Monte Carlo -rally until a technical problem stopped his rally before the last two stages. Still he was satisfied with his driving.

- I proved to myself that I can match Mikko's speed when we have equal cars and experience from the race, Ogier thought.

(Translation thanks to Nicole)

[miksu]

I believe this is from Kimis test this weekend:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tVWjDZo0bA

[Boudica]

I believe this is from Kimis test this weekend:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tVWjDZo0bA

Thanks! :)

At least it seems like Kimi is getting the hand of things.

[janvanvurpa]

Yeah that link shows some pretty flat out flat outing.

I have to ask but any of you Finns know how many times he's been out in any kind of rally car?

[Tomi]

Yeah that link shows some pretty flat out flat outing.

I have to ask but any of you Finns know how many times he's been out in any kind of rally car?

not many times 2-3 rallies, but he did quite much testing last summer before 1000 lakes, but this was the first test with a wrc car.

[DonJippo]

not many times 2-3 rallies, but he did quite much testing last summer before 1000 lakes, but this was the first test with a wrc car.

Actually I think this was his second time with WRC, he was in France week or two ago testing there with C4 WRC.

[Rallyper]

I believe this is from Kimis test this weekend:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tVWjDZo0bA

WOW!!!!! That was flat out! :eek: :eek: :bounce:

I´m longing for seeing him in the Rally Sweden.