BREAKING! Kimi Raikkonen will race in WRC next year!

Posted by Harvinder

December 4, 2009

Looks like recent speculation regarding former Ferrari driver and Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen’s link with WRC is true after all. The Finn has signed a deal with Citroen to drive the C4 rally car in WRC’s 2010 campaign. Raikkonen will race in Citroen’s second Junior World Rally Team and will have Kaj Lindstrom as his co-driver.

The duo will take part in all rounds in 2010 except for Rally New Zealand, which will be missed by the entire class. Sebastien Ogier will drive for Citroen’s other Junior World Rally Team while Citroen’s highest involvement in WRC will be piloted by six time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb who will also drive a Citroen C4.

“I always wanted to compete in rally, especially in the World Rally Championship at some point in my career,” said Raikkonen. “Thanks to Red Bull (his personal sponsor), I have the opportunity to drive the best car of the series with the Citroen C4. This is a new but very exciting challenge. For the moment we have a one-year contract and we will see how it goes for the future. I am really looking forward to testing the car and taking the start of the first rally.” It would be interesting to see how Raikkonen performs in WRC after wining the driver’s crown in Formula 1.

His involvement in WRC is expected to last one season only as he has taken a sabbatical from Formula 1, since he did not secure a seat with a team that belongs high up in the pecking order. However this may not be one of those “mid life crisis” decisions where its only temporary. There is always a possibility that he will continue rallying if he becomes more comfortable with it. Raikkonen made his rally debut at this year’s Rally Finland, finishing 15th overall in an Abarth Grande Punto S2000 before crashing on the second day. He also took part in three other non-championship rallies this year.

Source.