For the last Pirelli driver blog of the season we've entrusted the wrc.com laptop to 2007 Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen.

Raikkonen has never tackled the British round of the championship before, so it represents another leap into the unknown for the Finn, who drives a Citroen C4 World Rally Car for the French manufacturer’s Junior team.

As always though, he is able to rely on co-driver Kaj Lindstrom to guide him through all the potential pitfalls. Kaj has plenty of experience of Great Britain, having even taken part in - and won - the British Rally Championship.

Kimi sent this first update just before the rally opening Superspecial.

Blog one: Thursday 11 November, 1800hrs.

“I’ve been in motorsport for a few years now, so you would have thought that I should be used to it by now. But every season I’m always surprised by just how quickly the year has gone - especially this year.

It feels like my first rally of the season, in Finland on the Arctic Rally in January, was like yesterday. Or is that just because it’s so cold here in Wales? Actually, I’m used to the British weather now because I lived for a few years in England. My house was in Essex, where they filmed ‘Footballers’ Wives’. That’s all it’s really famous for I think...

I’ve heard a lot about Rally GB and it’s always been good for Finnish drivers for some reason. We’ll have to wait and see if it’s good for this particular Finnish driver but one thing is for sure: it looks extremely tricky.

There’s going to be a lot of mud, which is something that you don’t see in Formula One very often - unless you happen to be in a gravel trap. We start quite a long way down the order tomorrow and that’s not going to help us because the roads will be in bad condition by the time we get there.

In the end though it doesn’t matter because we’re not here to set really quick times: we just want to learn and above all get to the finish of the rally. We’ve made a lot of progress this year and if we can end the season by scoring some points, this would be really good. Hopefully I’ll get a bit of help from my co-driver Kaj: he’s a former British Rally Champion, so he should know his way round. Or at least that’s what I’m hoping.

A lot of people have been asking me what I’m doing next year and the truth is that I really don’t know. My management is working on a few options, but rallying is definitely what we are looking at; I’m not going back to Formula One next year.

Obviously it makes things a bit easier if we can end the season with a strong result, so that’s what we’re going to be concentrating on this weekend. Rallying is all about experience, so with everything we’ve learned so far,...

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04 Nov 10
Raikkonen: it’s WRC or nothing


Kimi Raikkonen will still be a former Grand Prix driver in 2011, having indicated that he would not be interested in doing a deal to go back to Formula One next year.
Recent speculation linking him to Renault’s F1 outfit was vigorously denied by Raikkonen, and the Finn is now fully committed to rallying.

“I enjoy rallying and I want to carry on, but we have to find a solution,” said the 30-year-old, who claimed the Formula One title in 2007. “Hopefully we can sort out the situation soon. But there are no guarantees.”

His manager Steve Robertson confirmed that the emphasis has shifted away from Formula One for Raikkonen, the winner of 18 Grands Prix. “We’re no longer looking at opportunities in F1,” added Robertson. “Kimi seems to be focussed on rallying at the moment.”

The Finn has so far failed to conclude a deal with his backer Red Bull to keep him in the Citroen Junior Team, although his management is working on a deal to keep him within the Citroen fold with reduced funding. Options from MINI and the Monster World Rally Team are also on the table.

“We’re talking to lots of different people,” confirmed Raikkonen. “There are some good possibilities. It’s not something I’m worried about.”

While Citroen’s Olivier Quesnel has previously stated that Raikkonen is “not fast enough’, Ford team principal Malcolm Wilson is one of the Finn’s big supporters.

“Some people have said they can’t see the value in what Kimi is doing,” said Wilson. “Well, for me, he’s brought great value in the WRC. Having him in the sport has raised the profile, created a stir and a story this season. Okay, he’s still learning, but there’s a heck of a lot more to come from him - and he’s still Kimi Raikkonen.”
Source: www.wrc.com

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Räikkönen: I have no plans for next year


Kimi Räikkönen has said that he is yet to finalise plans for the 2011 season following a sudden end to recent rumours that he may be returning to Formula 1 with Renault. Although a continuation in the World Rally Championship is believed to be the most likely option, the 2007 F1 Champion reiterates that no arrangements are yet in place.




Having departed Ferrari at the end of last year, Räikkönen has spent 2010 rallying for Red Bull’s Citroën Junior Team.

However, after claiming to the Finnish press prior to the Japanese Grand Prix that Renault was using his name in a publicity stunt – a statement the team hotly contested - an F1 comeback seems unlikely.

“I don’t have any plans for next year,” he told Fox Sports.

“There’s different options and we will see which is the best, what I feel is the right thing for me, and then we’ll make the decision.”

Source: Gp Update

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Raikkonen eyes options in WRC


Citroen Junior Team driver Kimi Raikkonen has admitted he has no intention of driving for the Renault Formula 1 team next season - a move which is reckoned to all-but rule-out the Finn’s return to racing and to keep him in the World Rally Championship.
Ever since the former Formula 1 World Champion signed up for his first season in the WRC, there has been speculation of his return to the track. Raikkonen has not publicly stated that he will remain in the WRC next year, but those close to him are now confident of a second season at rallying’s highest level.

Speaking to a Finnish newspaper, Raikkonen spoke out against what he saw as manoeuvring from Renault. He said: “I am very disappointed with how they have used my name for their own marketing. I have never even seriously considered driving for Renault and I can assure you that I am 100 per cent sure that I will not drive for Renault next season.”

Raikkonen’s agreement with Red Bull has yet to be concluded for next season, but Citroen Racing director Olivier Quesnel remains adamant the French firm wants to retain him for another year - but the Finn’s seat will have to be funded.

Both the Monster Ford World Rally Team and Prodrive’s fledgling Mini WRC team are both known to have had discussions with the 2007 world champion, but those talks have yet to extend to an offer of employment.

Raikkonen has endured a tough rookie season in the World Rally Championship. He has finished seven of the 10 events he’s started, but he has only scored points three times. His highest placed finish came in Turkey, where he placed his C4 WRC in fifth place. He has crashed out of the last two events and currently lies in 10th place in the drivers’ standings.

When asked about next season, Raikkonen conceded it would be “probably rallying” where he would remain.

While Raikkonen has contested 10 WRC rounds this season, he’s only started 11 in his entire career - and next week’s Catalunya Rally will only be his 16th rally ever.

Source: www.wrc.com

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