Kimi Raikkonen's performance on day two of Rally Sweden compared favourably to Sebastien Loeb, according to Benoit Nogier, the man responsible for managing Raikkonen's ICE 1 Racing team
Raikkonen is seventh, one place behind Sebastien Loeb, in the overall standings after 15 stages. Nogier revealed that he even sent Loeb’s split times to the ex-Formula One world champion on Saturday afternoon so the Finn could compare his performance with the seven-time WRC title winner.

“We are very happy because it is the first time I sent him the split times to the car compared to Sebastien Loeb so it is good news,” Nogier said. “It was very interesting, especially this afternoon because he improved himself and was five-tenths of a second per kilometre [slower than] Loeb, which we are pleased with.”

When asked to explain Raikkonen’s increased pace, Nogier said: “It’s the second time for Kimi here in Sweden and we have already seen yesterday it was much easier for a second time. I think it’s also easier for him in the Citroen DS3 WRC.”

Nogier continued: “We plan for him to be in the points tomorrow and a top six would be great. It is our goal and we are not so far away now. We have a chance tomorrow.”
Source: official WRC website

Tags:

SwedenRally

"Räikkönen in better rhythm" by Heikki Kulta

Räikkönen in better rhythm

Turun Sanomat 12.2 2011 14:36:38

The cold and clear weather helped Kimi Räikkönen and Kaj Lindström to a better speed on Saturday morning in Rally Sweden. Kimi was 8th on all four stages. He did best in Sågen where Kimi was 22,2 seconds from the top time when he had the difference of 30,4 seconds in the stage before that.

Räikkönen is now holding on to two points being 9th.

– The weather is now normal compared to Friday's snowstorm and it was pretty good driving, Kaj evaluated.

– We are on the ride with only one spare tyre so the balance of the car is a bit different. We already got it pretty good.

How big is the difference to last year when Kimi debuted on these roads?

– Because Kimi has drove here before, of course he remembers the places. First he didn't remember the last stage but once we took off he remembered it immeadiately.

The change of weather has of course changed the surface of the road too.

– It's not a that big change. The surface doesn't eat the tyres as much or wear them out, Lindström said.

Räikkönen has to shake himself awake because the rally begins so early.

– It always goes late in the evening here so we don't have much time to sleep. But it went okay. There isn't as much snow as it was on Friday. It's much more cooler to drive. The roads are great, Räikkönen said.

Turun Sanomat, Hagfors

HEIKKI KULTA
Source: blog Octeto Racing Team
http://networkedblogs.com/eccdk

Tags:

SwedenRally

Tags:

SwedenRally

Rally of Sweden: Räikkönen's shakedown began through the snowbank

Kimi Räikkönen and Kaj Lindström visited a snow bank with the new Citroën DS3 WRC car at the beginning of the first shakedown period during the weekend of Rally Sweden in the World Rally Championship season.

- Whenever there is a new car, there is a little bit of experimenting, Lindstrom acknowledged the situation.

Räikkönen likes Sweden's snowy challenge although the snowfall on Thursday put to the test the new tires and the studs.

- The tyres are suffering from that amount of snow. When it is snowing, the new tires seem to be quite difficult. When you go over even a little bit of snow, there's no grip and the car is like aquaplaning, Raikkonen thought.

Räikkönen did not have any worries from his lack of preparation for the season.

- There was no plans from last season on how to prepare. We had time to test on one day, and even then not quite the whole day, because the engine blew up. Because the engine had apparently been run in all the tests they had done.

Räikkönen is now the boss of his own racing team, ICE1 Racing.

– The team is the same even though the name is different and the car is new. Nothing else has changed. If I wanted to drive, it was better to develop something. This option was the easiest, Raikkonen explained.

What about the new car, the Citroën DS3 WRC?

- From what I have gotten to drive, it feels pretty good. It has a Super 2000-style, it feels lighter and turns more quickly.

Raikkonen did not promise any results?

It is being driven and considered. We'll see how it goes, Räikkönen acknowledged.

FINAL OFFICIAL RESULTS AFTER ALL SHAKEDOWN RUNS

1. Henning Solberg Ford 2.02,5
2. Mikko Hirvonen Ford 2.02,6
3. Petter Solberg Citroen 2.02,7
4. Sebastien Loeb Citroen 2.02,8
5. Jari-Matti Latvala Ford 2.03,2
6. P-G Andersson Ford 2.03,4
7. Mads Östberg Ford 2.03,9
8. Kimi Räikkönen Citroen 2.04,5
9. Sebastien Ogier Citroen 2.05,3
10. Eyvind Brynildsen Skoda 2.08,6 (S2000)

Tags:

SwedenRally

Kimi Raikkonen's car arrives in Sweden: http://bit.ly/fm9azD Wishing Robert Kubica a speedy recovery n kimi to do well in Rally Sweden
(Source: Ice1Racing Team Twitter)

Tags:

SwedenRally