Raikkonen to WRC?

[PT]

Although he just crashed his Fiat 500 out of the Rally of Finland, he seems to be pretty set on going full time in 2011 once his Ferrari deal is finished.  Here is a recent story covering it on itv-F1.com. The questions are:

How likely is this?
What will he be driving?

I did consider putting this in the rally forum but seeing as Kimi is still an F1 driver I hope its ok to discuss here.

***********************************************************

Kimi will consider WRC switch for 2011
Friday, 31 July 2009 00:00

Kimi Raikkonen says he will consider a switch from Formula 1 to the World Rally Championship when his Ferrari contract runs out next year.

The 2007 world champion is currently making his WRC debut at Rally Finland driving his own Abarth Grande Punto, having previously competed on three domestic Finnish rallies.

When asked in a press conference on Thursday whether rallying might feature in his future career plans, Raikkonen said: “Yes, definitely.

“I am still in F1 and have another year on my contract with Ferrari but after that everything is open.

“I always enjoy rallying and it’s nice to be part of it here.

“I am a bit too young to do nothing so I will see.


 
“It all depends on which way F1 is going. Nobody is exactly sure how it will be. I am in no hurry; I have at least one year to make my mind up.”

The 29-year-old Finn said he would be keen to do more rallies next year if he can fit them into his schedule.

“If I have the time then maybe,” he said.

“I like learning different things so if I have no testing, and the time, then I will do more rallies – I enjoy it and there is no harm in it.”

He added that he had the blessing of Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo: “I asked him first if it was okay, because FIAT has a Super 2000 car, so it was an easy choice.

“He knew I was interested so he let me do something in my spare time.”

Rally Finland is renowned as one of the toughest events on the WRC calendar due to its super-fast forest roads and high jumps, but Raikkonen says he finds the gravel surface easier to adapt to than the snow he has tackled on two of his three previous rallies.

“I think this is more normal for me on gravel,” he said.

“The roads are a bit faster than on snow and the grip is good and the roads are a bit wider so we will see how we can do.

“We will try to finish the rally – I don’t know if we can win it or not but we will have fun.”

Raikkonen added that one of the most important tasks he has had to master is the use of pace notes.

“The notes here are really important for you to go fast and it is something completely different to what I am used to,” he said.

“It just takes time to learn and sometimes you get it wrong and it is not easy to know exactly where to go on the jumps.

“I just hope to get to the finish and match the same speeds as the other guys in my group.”

So far Raikkonen is achieving his objective, lying 19th overall and sixth in his class after the early Friday stages.

[anmark]

Although he just crashed his Fiat 500 out of the Rally of Finland, he seems to be pretty set on going full time in 2011 once his Ferrari deal is finished.  Here is a recent story covering it on itv-F1.com. The questions are:

How likely is this?
What will he be driving?

I did consider putting this in the rally forum but seeing as Kimi is still an F1 driver I hope its ok to discuss here.

***********************************************************

Kimi will consider WRC switch for 2011
Friday, 31 July 2009 00:00

Kimi Raikkonen says he will consider a switch from Formula 1 to the World Rally Championship when his Ferrari contract runs out next year.

The 2007 world champion is currently making his WRC debut at Rally Finland driving his own Abarth Grande Punto, having previously competed on three domestic Finnish rallies.

When asked in a press conference on Thursday whether rallying might feature in his future career plans, Raikkonen said: “Yes, definitely.

“I am still in F1 and have another year on my contract with Ferrari but after that everything is open.

“I always enjoy rallying and it’s nice to be part of it here.

“I am a bit too young to do nothing so I will see.


 
“It all depends on which way F1 is going. Nobody is exactly sure how it will be. I am in no hurry; I have at least one year to make my mind up.”

The 29-year-old Finn said he would be keen to do more rallies next year if he can fit them into his schedule.

“If I have the time then maybe,” he said.

“I like learning different things so if I have no testing, and the time, then I will do more rallies – I enjoy it and there is no harm in it.”

He added that he had the blessing of Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo: “I asked him first if it was okay, because FIAT has a Super 2000 car, so it was an easy choice.

“He knew I was interested so he let me do something in my spare time.”

Rally Finland is renowned as one of the toughest events on the WRC calendar due to its super-fast forest roads and high jumps, but Raikkonen says he finds the gravel surface easier to adapt to than the snow he has tackled on two of his three previous rallies.

“I think this is more normal for me on gravel,” he said.

“The roads are a bit faster than on snow and the grip is good and the roads are a bit wider so we will see how we can do.

“We will try to finish the rally – I don’t know if we can win it or not but we will have fun.”

Raikkonen added that one of the most important tasks he has had to master is the use of pace notes.

“The notes here are really important for you to go fast and it is something completely different to what I am used to,” he said.

“It just takes time to learn and sometimes you get it wrong and it is not easy to know exactly where to go on the jumps.

“I just hope to get to the finish and match the same speeds as the other guys in my group.”

So far Raikkonen is achieving his objective, lying 19th overall and sixth in his class after the early Friday stages.

Is Räikkönen first driver who win championship in F1 and Rally? People here in Finland belive that. 

[Oldtony]

Maybe 2011 will see Kimi in a WRC car and Seb Loeb in an F1 car both trying to be first to win both titles

Meanwhile the rest of the world is trying to work out what makes Finns so quick whatever they are driving

Welcome anmark.

[auto]

Miten menee anmark.

If you want to win hire a finn.

Ill quote from Top Gear episode:

Mika Hakkinen: "Just like English children might play cricket from an early age to gain skills this is also true for Finnish people."

[Eno the Wonderdog]

Speedway bikes too..

[HighRoller]

WOW this is huge. I cant see him being rubbish at it.

[PT]

Given the  Ferrari group connections, perhaps its not by accident thats he's driving a Fiat??  Anyone know more about this and/or Ferrari or FIAT corporate support? 

[auto]

I think it was because of Ferrari not wanting to be driving something like a Subaru and not the Ferrari brand (or close to).

And I think because that car was easy to get a hold of.

[Everso Biggyballies]

Like Schumacher was, and all the other F1 manufacturer drivers, they are contractually only allowed to drive in their own brand of car, be it on road or track..... MS when he competed in the Race of Champions never drove say the Citroen WRC car (or in fact anything with a major manufacturer brand name) other than the buggy and kit car, and the Fiat Touring Car. 

In the case of Raikkonens car he is allowed to drive anything from the Fiat Group, and the car he drives is a model they have rallied on Italian Tarmac events in the same S2000 Group N guise.  This particular Fiat (Punto) is I believe the only current Fiat car in modern rallying with any rallying heritage.

The car itself belongs to Kimi, (hence why the car is painted in the colours and design of his helmet, and I believe also the design of one of his tattoos, although I may be wrong on that) and is prepared and run for him by Tommi Makinen Motorsport, paid for by Kimi.  The reference to Heuer on the car is because TAG Heuer sell a range of Raikkonen branded watches, and have done since his days at McLaren......