WRC: Mini and Monster chase Räikkönen for 2011


Kimi Räikkönen is thought to have received offers to join both Mini and the Monster World Rally Team for 2011, as uncertainty over the Finn's future beyond the current campaign continues.

The 2007 Formula One world champion joined the Citroën Junior team in the WRC this year, and was thought to be close to signing a contract extension with the French squad. Räikkönen himself dropped strong hints at last weekend's Rally Japan that his preference was to remain where he is for 2011.

"I don't have anything [signed] right now, but I like it where I am," said the 30 year-old. "The people are nice and the car is good but it depends on so many things. It's not just up to me- if I could choose I would have chosen already. But it's not that simple."

And it has now emerged that Red Bull- who are funding Räikkönen’s WRC efforts with Citroën- could be behind the bid to take him to the Prodrive-operated Mini team, with rival energy drink company Monster wishing to pair the Finn with Ken Block at their squad.

Speculation over Räikkönen's future in rallying comes the same week the Finn has been linked with a Formula One return, with Renault F1 team principal Eric Boullier claiming that Räikkönen has approached him about a seat with the team.

"Räikkönen is on the radar [for the 2011 driver line-up] now. He contacted us," Boullier told Autosport.

However Räikkönen has given no indication that he plans to return to single-seaters, remarking at Rally Japan that his future “will probably be in rallying”.

The Finnish driver has had a steady debut season in the WRC, taking a best finish of fifth in Turkey and currently sitting tenth in the drivers’ championship with 21 points.




James Weeks.

Source: www.motorstv.com/car/rally/wrc/1609...k%C3%B6nen-2011

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