Author Topic: RAIKKONEN goes Rallying (Read 1711 times)

Everso Biggyballies · « **on:** January 09, 2009, 07:05:39 am »

RAIKKONEN and Hakkinen to tackle ArcticRally

Finlands last two F1WDC winners, Kimi Raikkonen and Mika Hakkinen, are both expected to take part in Finland's famous Arctic Lapland Rally later this month.

It is believed that for Ferrari driver Raikkonen's Arctic rally debut, he will compete in a Fiat Abarth S2000.

F1's 1998 and 1999 title winner Hakkinen, meanwhile, who has contested the rally before, will be at the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer, Holland's Blik Op Nieuws publication reports.

The rally, part of the Finnish rally championship, takes place between January 22nd and 24th.

Kimi has always shown an interest in rallying, and in fact I think his older brother is a past Finnish Champion. A year or so ago Malcom Wilson, head of the Ford WRC programme said he would happily give Kimi a full WRC test in one of the Focus WRC cars should he so wish to try something else when he is over F1.

Good luck to them both. Its good to see drivers tackling different avenues of Motorsport to their normal pursuits.

Looking through the past winners list is like a who's who of ralying, with names such as Tommi Mäkinen, Ari Vatanen, Marcus Grönholm, Hannu Mikkola, Leo Kinnunen, Stig Blomqvist, Simo Lampinen, Henri Toivonen, Markku Alen, and more.

Courtney No. 1 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 10, 2009, 12:40:13 am »

And there was me wondering how they would decide who got to read the notes

Everso Biggyballies · « **Reply #2 on:** January 10, 2009, 01:08:11 am »

Quote from: Courtney No. 1 on January 10, 2009, 12:40:13 am

And there was me wondering how they would decide who got to read the notes

Kimi reading the pace notes? P-A-L-E-A-S-E !

Stutter errrr... mumble mumble errr...um....

leftbacktherebeforebigyumpwatchforsnowbank. Ouch why are we upside down?
Oh Mika I need to take a

Everso Biggyballies · « **Reply #3 on:** January 10, 2009, 06:23:22 pm »

A bit of further detail on their lineup....

Kimi will drive with Kaj Lindstrom (who used to be Tommi Makinen's co-driver,) as his navigator.

Hakkinen, who is an old hand at the rally, having taken part in the rally in 2003, 2004 and 2006, will drive with Ilkka Kivimaki as his co-driver.

Everso Biggyballies · « **Reply #4 on:** January 13, 2009, 08:17:27 am »

Finnish F1 drivers Salo and JJ Lehto also enter the rally.

Finnish website mtv3.fi reports now that also Mika Salo and Jyrki Järvilehto are going to take part in this years Arctic Lapland Rally.

http://www.mtv3.fi/urheilu/ralli/uutiset.shtml/arkistot/ralli/2009/01/778123

According to that article, Mika Salo has confirmed to MTV3 that he will take part in the rally. And Jyrki Järvilehto says that he is meaning to take part in the rally if he gets a package together, as it came a bit late. The article also says that they would be driving the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, like Häkkinen.

Mika Salo says "If only we would get also Heikki with us, it would be really great. McLaren won't let him drive. It's pretty good though when four Finnish F1 drivers are there. Keke (Rosberg) said he refuses to take part anymore." Salo laughed.

About the competition between the F1 drivers Salo says:

"Everyone probably says no, but I suspect that everyone there will be driving against each other anyways. Kimi is there for the first time so it is a completely new experience for him. Häkkinen and I have driven there before. Jyrki is really fast in a rally car so probably none of us keeps up with him. He has driven a rally car so much."

Kimi's manager Steve Robertson says that Kimi asked the permission to drive the rally directly from Luca di Montezemolo. Luca di Montezemolo has been a rally co-driver in Jyväskylä (Rally of the Thousand Lakes, or Neste Oil Rally Finland like it is called nowadays).

Ferrari's Stefano Domenicali about Kimi driving the rally:
"I don't doubt to let him to the rally. Part of the tradition at Ferrari is an open attitude towards the passions of our drivers. When we let Kimi two days of leave for a rally, it is kind of like two days testing. That is how I see it."

Shame, but no surprise the likes of the control freak at Woking wont allow his drivers (Heikki anyway) to have fun in the close season....

The car Kimi will be driving in the rally (FIAT) is similar to the car which Anton Alén, the son of Markku Alén, has rallied in Italy.

Kimi drove doing "ice notes" in the 2006 Monte Carlo Rally. for his friend Jukka Jalonen . "Ice notes" mean that a car drives through the special stage before the actual rally cars are let to drive through it. They take notes where are possible slippery places, to make it safer for the rally drivers when they come through. It's important for safety as the conditions on the special stages can change drastically in a matter of a few hours so the rally car drivers should have recent information of the conditions and not from the day before.

Everso Biggyballies · « **Reply #5 on:** January 24, 2009, 11:05:22 am »

Special Stage 1 results!

So round 1 victory goes to Räikkönen in the F1 drivers's battle. Not a bad start for him. His first-ever rally special stage and 16th overall, and faster than all the Finnish F1 guys running, which seeing as they all, especially JJ Lehto who is now a very regular driver on the rally scene.

Especially good when you think that Kimi is using a FIAT that was built for the Italian Tarmac Rallies,and here he is running it in snow and ice.

Everso Biggyballies · « **Reply #6 on:** January 24, 2009, 11:08:01 am »

After Stage 5

Overall results after special stage 5

As expected JJ has taken over at the top of the F1 guys but Kimi is more than holding his own, running ahead of Hakkinen and Salo in their EVO 9 Mitsubishis.

05 Ristilampi 1 28.56 kilometers

1. Jari Ketomaa Subaru 52.31,9
2. Kosti Katajamäki Mitsub. + 6,9
3. Juha Salo Mitsub. + 8,7
4. Jussi Välimäki Mitsub. + 35,3
5. Jukka Ketomäki Mitsub. + 48,7
6. Janne Tuohino Mitsub. +1.12,9
7. Joni Nikko Mitsub. +1.19,9
8. Teemu Arminen Subaru +1.26,8
9. Marko Kakko Mitsub. +1.38,3
10. Michal Solowow Peugeot +2.14,7
---------------------------------------
14. Jyrki Järvilehto Mitsub. +2.50,9
18. Kimi Räikkönen Fiat +3.27,6
20. Mika Salo Mitsub. +4.30,5
23. Mika Häkkinen Mitsub. +5.40,4

Everso Biggyballies · « **Reply #7 on:** January 24, 2009, 11:12:36 am »

Overall results after special stage 6 and end of day 1

06 Mäntyvaara 2 3.70 kilometers

1. Jari Ketomaa Subaru 55.23,9
2. Kosti Katajamäki Mitsub. + 9,9
3. Juha Salo Mitsub. + 13,2
4. Jussi Välimäki Mitsub. + 35,6
5. Jukka Ketomäki Mitsub. + 50,5
6. Janne Tuohino Mitsub. +1.13,5
7. Joni Nikko Mitsub. +1.21,5
8. Teemu Arminen Subaru +1.28,4
9. Marko Kakko Mitsub. +1.44,2
10. Michal Solowow Peugeot +2.15,0
---------------------------------------
13. Jyrki Järvilehto Mitsub. +2.58,4
16. Kimi Räikkönen Fiat +3.28,0
20. Mika Salo Mitsub. +4.35,7
23. Mika Häkkinen Mitsub. +5.48,1

In this special stage Kimi Räikkönen was only 0.4 seconds slower than the fastest stage time outright. .

It was a short special stage but anyway losing only 0.4 seconds to the professionals is impressive. He beat JJ by several seconds as you can see from the difference between stages 5 and 6.

It has made the likes of Tommi Makkinen, 4 time WRC Champion, comment very favourably as to his talent for the sport.

Everso Biggyballies · « **Reply #8 on:** January 24, 2009, 10:50:48 pm »

A couple of very short Kimi Clips on the Arctic Rally..... I know im a Kimi fan, but I dont think anyone could not be seriously impressed by his pace and sideways drifts at basically a very high speed..... remembering he has never done a rally before. He is definately going for it.

Kimi Räikkönen Arctic Lapland Rally Night Stage

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=7bIk-v26dJg

Arctic Lapland Rally 2009 EK2. - Kimi Räikkönen

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=1et6o72vtVk

Everso Biggyballies · « **Reply #9 on:** January 24, 2009, 11:36:50 pm »

JJ Lehto is in the top ten now. Kimi up to 14th overall. Miko Salo is out, something happened on this stage.
Kimi Räikkönen was 5th fastest overall on this Special Stage 9. He was only 1.9 seconds slower than the fastest on this stage.

Overall results after special stage 9!

09 Mäntyvaara 2 3.70 kilometers

1. Juha Salo Mitsub. 1.27.08,3
2. Kosti Katajamäki Mitsub. + 6,6
3. Jari Ketomaa Subaru + 23,0
4. Jussi Välimäki Mitsub. + 57,5
5. Jukka Ketomäki Mitsub. + 1.25,2
6. Janne Tuohino Mitsub. + 1.58,0
7. Teemu Arminen Subaru + 2.04,5
8. Joni Nikko Mitsub. + 2.27,1
9. Marko Kakko Mitsub. + 3.13,0
10. Jyrki Järvilehto Mitsub. + 4.08,9
---------------------------------------
14. Kimi Räikkönen Fiat + 5.05,1
19. Mika Häkkinen Mitsub. + 9.22,8

Everso Biggyballies · « **Reply #10 on:** January 25, 2009, 03:20:30 am »

After special stage 12, the end

1. Juha Salo Mitsub. 2.01.14,1
2. Kosti Katajamäki Mitsub. +15,2
3. Jari Ketomaa Subaru +33,2
4. Jussi Välimäki Mitsub. +1.24,5
5. Jukka Ketomäki Mitsub. +2.08,0
6. Janne Tuohino Mitsub. +2.21,3
..
9. Jyrki Järvilehto Mitsub. +5.36,1
13. Kimi Räikkönen Fiat +6.34,0
19. Mika Häkkinen Mitsub.

Mika Salo apparently retired after he suffered a technical problem.

So Kimi ended up 13th in his first-ever rally. A good result.

Kimi getting some air. Must say I dont like the look of the narrow snow tyres...

Everso Biggyballies · « **Reply #11 on:** February 12, 2009, 10:05:29 pm »

RAIKKONEN to Do Another Pre-Season Finnish Championship Rally.

Raikkonen eyes his next Finnish rally outing, keen on the Vaakuna Rally

Kimi Raikkonen will resume his rallying foray in Finland later this month, according to reports in the Ferrari driver's native country.

The 2007 Formula One world champion finished his first professional rally, the recent Arctic Lapland Rally, in thirteenth place, having entered a Fiat Abarthe Grande Punto S2000.

It is reported that he now wants to take part in the Vaakuna Rally, also part of the Finnish Rally Championship, between 20 and 21 February in Mikkeli, which would be only shortly after he returns from Bahrain for Ferrari testing, the Finnish tabloid Iltalehi said.

It is suggested that Raikkonen, 29, will again need the clearance of his Ferrari chiefs Stefano Domenicali and Luca di Montezemolo.

"I cannot say anything other than it is possible that we will be involved," Raikkonen's co-driver Kaj Lindstrom told another Finnish publication, Lansi-Savo.

Everso Biggyballies · « **Reply #12 on:** May 28, 2009, 10:27:08 am »

Another Rally this weekend for Kimi.... the Tarmac Rally della Marca in Italy

Kimi Räikkönen will once again take to the rally track this weekend as he joins the Rally della Marca in Italy. Having already competed in the snow and Ice of the Arctic Lapland Rally and also the Vaakuna Rally four months ago, (see earlier posts in this thread for details) Kimi will now tackle the dry Italian tarmac road stages, driving the same type of Fiat Abarthe Grande Punto S2000 he used in the snow, but on the on the outskirts of Treviso over the course on Friday and Saturday. Although he exceeded expectations on the winter rallies, the Fiat Abarthe Grande Punto he used was not really set up for the snow, and is purpose built for the very Tarmac surfaces he will be running on.....

Go Kimi.

Everso Biggyballies · « **Reply #13 on:** June 30, 2009, 06:54:32 am »

KIMI to Step up to WRC in Rally Finland.

With F1 drivers now having little to do outside promotional duties and race weekends, Kimi is filling in his quiet weekends with rallying, having already done three this year. However he has now taken the big step up to the WRC with his home rally to be held at the end of July.....

Kimi will again be at the wheel of his Tommi Makinen-prepared Fiat Abarth Grande Punto S2000, with Kaj Lindstrom alongside.

"It's always a great rally and for Kimi it's of course an even bigger thing because this is his first time," Lindstrom told the Finnish tabloid Iltalehti.

"It's one of the world's fastest rallies and double the length of for example the Arctic rally," he added.

Go Kimi.

auto · « **Reply #14 on:** June 30, 2009, 10:26:23 am »

At least Kimi will have an advantage on home soil.

Night crawler · « **Reply #15 on:** July 05, 2009, 02:58:58 pm »

Raikkonen reminds me of Gilles Villeneuve.. although they were both poles apart in terms of driving styles, they're both pure racing drivers... ready to race anything against anybody... remember Melbourne '07? Everybody was getting used to the time zone few days before the race. Despite everyone asking him not to, Kimi was in a dangerous snowmobile race against the very best in the world, under the name 'James Hunt'.

Oh, btw he won the 2 day 500 mile race too. Sheer class

Everso Biggyballies · « **Reply #16 on:** July 29, 2009, 10:30:53 am »

Mark Webber comments on Kimi Rallying in the WRC Finland this week.

Kimi's running the WRC round in Finland this weekend was brought up in the Thursday Press Conf at Hungaroring.....

Thursday's press conference - Hungary

Q. (Mark Webber) I've got a question for Kimi. I want to know who's doing Kimi's pace notes? Is he a brave man or not?

KR: Yeah. He used to do it before for Tommi Mäkinen, so he should be OK. He's survived until now, so he should be OK.

MW: Honestly, I think it's a real credit to Kimi that he's having a crack at it. It's a really brave thing to do, so I wish Kimi all the best for tackling one of the hardest rallies in the world. We should take our hats off to him, so good luck with it.

KR: Cheers Mark.

A few other bits re kimi and the Rally....

http://www.mtv3.fi/urheilu/ralli/uutiset.shtml/arkistot/ralli/2009/07/918167

- The co-driver Kaj Lindström again praises Kimi's talent.

"When you look at that speed, you have to raise your hat. Such a super talent in car control shines through. The car is under control of the driver all the time.

"Kimi is a top professional in the tests as well. When he noted while driving that the front [of the car] does this or that, and then when Tommi [Mäkinen] tests the car, he says the same."

Sébastien Loeb on Kimi and Rally Finland:

http://www.mtv3.fi/urheilu/ralli/uutiset.shtml/arkistot/ralli/2009/07/918984

"It is a very brave move from an F1 driver to take part in the Rally Finland. Even though it is at the same time a "home race" for Kimi, this rally is one of the most demanding, most technical and most difficult in the whole season. But it is also one of the greatest rallies, perhaps the greatest.

"I cannot measure the braveness of Kimi, but I praise his will to try a new racing category which is uncomparable to any of his earlier experiences. I hope Kimi will take the maximum enjoyment out of the event without having huge pressure to succeed. Who knows, maybe he will find a new sport for himself from rallying."

Oldtony · « **Reply #17 on:** July 29, 2009, 04:17:05 pm »

I think the Rally world is possibly much more Kimi's scene than F1. It is equally competitive, but far less dog eat dog.
Kimi also seems to have developed a much more "Nors" hairstyle to go wuth the new opportunity.
Nice friendly comment by Mark. Would be interesring to see him in a cross over situation in another motorsport. Maybe he can demonstrate those skills in this years ROC.

Everso Biggyballies · « **Reply #18 on:** July 31, 2009, 03:01:36 am »

As you know Kimi is on the WRC Finland Rally this weekend.

This i the official website of the rally if anyone wants to follow progress

http://www.nesteoilrallyfinland.fi/

A couple of interesting questions from the WRC press conference Kimi was in....

Quote

Q:
Kimi, firstly welcome to the WRC. We have seen you compete on events this year but what has made you decide to compete on a round of the World Rally Championship and what have you thought of the experience so far?
KR:
The biggest decision was that I have the time now and I don’t have anything else to do this weekend.

Q:
What do you think about Michael Schumacher joining you as the second driver at Ferrari?
KR:
I actually heard it yesterday. For me it makes no difference who drives the second car. I don’t think it is 100 per cent sure that he will drive as he is still checking things out. But it will be nice to have him as a team-mate. It nearly happened before.

Q:
Would it be possible for a World Rally driver to win an F1 race?
KR:
You will have to ask Sébastien! For sure he has the speed, and he has shown he can drive fast in Le Mans.
Sébastien Loeb:
I tested only once and the time was okay, but for sure it would be nice to race for real.

auto · « **Reply #19 on:** July 31, 2009, 11:31:27 am »

After SS1 Kimi was 20th.

Today action has just started from what I can tell so it wll be a while before the next batch of results.

News:

Author Topic: RAIKKONEN goes Rallying (Read 1711 times)