Looks like Kimi is going to be a full time rally driver next year
11-28-2009, 10:31 AM
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Looks like Kimi is going to be a full time rally driver next year
Raikkonen close to Citroen WRC deal
28 November 2009
According to the official World Rally Championship website Kimi Raikkonen is about to sign a deal with Citroen to drive a C4 World Rally Car on all 13 rounds of the 2010 World Rally Championship.
Raikkonen back in January
Nothing is signed yet, but a source close to the 2007 F1 World Champion told wrc.com that only small details needed to be tied-up before an official announcement is made in the coming days.
The Finn's 2010 WRC programme is understood to have been funded by Red Bull, one of Raikkonen's personal sponsors, and a major backer of Citroen's World Rally campaign.
Long time rally fan Raikkonen is able to tackle the World Rally Championship season thanks to his decision to take a one year sabbatical from Formula 1.
Raikkonen's only WRC experience to date came on this year's Rally Finland, where he impressed in an Abarth Grande Punto S2000. Despite engine problems he was placed 15th overall when he crashed his car into a ditch on the second day.
If Raikkonen does make the switch to Citroen power for 2010, he'll be in good company. Six-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb has won 26 rallies in the C4 and recently admitted it was his favourite competition car of all time.
28 November 2009
According to the official World Rally Championship website Kimi Raikkonen is about to sign a deal with Citroen to drive a C4 World Rally Car on all 13 rounds of the 2010 World Rally Championship.
Raikkonen back in January
Nothing is signed yet, but a source close to the 2007 F1 World Champion told wrc.com that only small details needed to be tied-up before an official announcement is made in the coming days.
The Finn's 2010 WRC programme is understood to have been funded by Red Bull, one of Raikkonen's personal sponsors, and a major backer of Citroen's World Rally campaign.
Long time rally fan Raikkonen is able to tackle the World Rally Championship season thanks to his decision to take a one year sabbatical from Formula 1.
Raikkonen's only WRC experience to date came on this year's Rally Finland, where he impressed in an Abarth Grande Punto S2000. Despite engine problems he was placed 15th overall when he crashed his car into a ditch on the second day.
If Raikkonen does make the switch to Citroen power for 2010, he'll be in good company. Six-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb has won 26 rallies in the C4 and recently admitted it was his favourite competition car of all time.
11-28-2009, 11:23 AM
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" Red Bull, one of Raikkonen's personal sponsors"
Interesting, Red Bull sponsor, Kimi sitting out 1 year and Webber's contract w/RB ending next year.
Could it be?
Interesting, Red Bull sponsor, Kimi sitting out 1 year and Webber's contract w/RB ending next year.
Could it be?
11-28-2009, 04:14 PM
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Although personally I think after a year of WRC and throw in Le Mans 24 for good measure and Kimi's F1 days are done, less pressure and waaaaaaayyyy too much fun with those guys (did anyone heard any stories from Rally Finland that involves Kimi, Tommi Makinen, Vettel & bunch of others?).
12-02-2009, 12:00 PM
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12-02-2009, 01:45 PM
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Kimi suck like goatballs soap ...... there will be no rally career ....
Notable retirements:
SS2/3. Evgeny Novikov Citroen Junior Team C4 WRC Accident. MT*
SS3. Jukka Ketomaki Skoda Octavia WRC Mechanical. A8
SS4. Petter Solberg PS WRT Citroen Xsara WRC Went off the road. A8*
SS11. Yoann Bonato Suzuki Swift S1600 Crashed. J
SS12. Henning Solberg Stobart VK Ford Focus WRC Driveshaft. MT*
SS13/14. Petter Solberg PS WRT Citroen Xsara WRC Engine. A8
SS14. Evgeny Novikov Citroen Junior Team C4 WRC Went off the road. MT
SS14. Kevin Abbring Renault Clio RS R3 Went off the road. J
SS15. Luca Griotti Renault Clio R3 Went off the road. J
SS19. Mads Ostberg Adapta Subaru Impreza WRC2008 Went off the road. A8
SS19. Kimi Räikkönen Fiat Grande Punto S2000 Went off the road. N4
Notable retirements:
SS2/3. Evgeny Novikov Citroen Junior Team C4 WRC Accident. MT*
SS3. Jukka Ketomaki Skoda Octavia WRC Mechanical. A8
SS4. Petter Solberg PS WRT Citroen Xsara WRC Went off the road. A8*
SS11. Yoann Bonato Suzuki Swift S1600 Crashed. J
SS12. Henning Solberg Stobart VK Ford Focus WRC Driveshaft. MT*
SS13/14. Petter Solberg PS WRT Citroen Xsara WRC Engine. A8
SS14. Evgeny Novikov Citroen Junior Team C4 WRC Went off the road. MT
SS14. Kevin Abbring Renault Clio RS R3 Went off the road. J
SS15. Luca Griotti Renault Clio R3 Went off the road. J
SS19. Mads Ostberg Adapta Subaru Impreza WRC2008 Went off the road. A8
SS19. Kimi Räikkönen Fiat Grande Punto S2000 Went off the road. N4
Last edited by A.Wayne; 12-02-2009 at 04:23 PM.
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12-02-2009, 05:57 PM
#8
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Wayne,
It would be sort of interesting to comment to what you write if you had even a tiny little remote knowledge about rally but since you don't, why bother...
It would be sort of interesting to comment to what you write if you had even a tiny little remote knowledge about rally but since you don't, why bother...
12-02-2009, 06:02 PM
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Burning Brakes
12-02-2009, 06:12 PM
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Kimi is still in negotiations with himself...
http://f1personalityviewpoint.blogspot.com/
http://f1personalityviewpoint.blogspot.com/
12-02-2009, 11:27 PM
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12-03-2009, 12:19 AM
#13
HDT's Rally Finland coverage followed Kimi's progress as an interesting aspect of the rally.
They had full coverage of him balling up the Punto, and a short interview afterwards which was classic Kimi.
They had full coverage of him balling up the Punto, and a short interview afterwards which was classic Kimi.
12-03-2009, 02:25 AM
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Formula One Spin Doctor
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Stomp and spit all you want , KR is a has been, dat never was, wash-up..
Told you so 3 yrs ago , a pity you seem to know very little about F1...
Now KR has no day job and you think he has a WRC career ...
Yes you seem to know a lot ...
What was dat about Alonso not getting KR's seat again ....
You also said KR was better than Massa .....
What about the Mclaren seat you told us he had ...
Yep ....... Deh amigos have any more predictions ... I'm thirsty ..........
12-04-2009, 08:24 AM
#15
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Well, Kimi's deal (that Wayne knows doesn't exist) with Citroen's junior deal has been officially confirmed today.
It's a one year deal with Sebastien Ogier as his team mate. The main Citroen team drivers are Loeb & Sordo as before.
Tests will start in January, which he obviously needs to do as much as possible. Jumping into WRC with practically zero experience won't be easy so he'll have a lot to learn. If he manages to be, say in top 5 in last rallies of the year, it will be outstanding. A lot to learn but after a year of WRC (and maybe Le Mans also) I'm pretty sure he won't want to go back to F1. Everything in WRC & Le Mans is way more laid back than in F1 and we all know how laid back Kimi is.
I haven't checked, does anyone have info about HDTheatre's WRC coverage for next year? Will they be doing them every (rally ) weekends? I certainly hope so!
It's a one year deal with Sebastien Ogier as his team mate. The main Citroen team drivers are Loeb & Sordo as before.
Tests will start in January, which he obviously needs to do as much as possible. Jumping into WRC with practically zero experience won't be easy so he'll have a lot to learn. If he manages to be, say in top 5 in last rallies of the year, it will be outstanding. A lot to learn but after a year of WRC (and maybe Le Mans also) I'm pretty sure he won't want to go back to F1. Everything in WRC & Le Mans is way more laid back than in F1 and we all know how laid back Kimi is.
I haven't checked, does anyone have info about HDTheatre's WRC coverage for next year? Will they be doing them every (rally ) weekends? I certainly hope so!