There are a whole bunch of videos from Kimi Räikkönen’s drive in Arctic Rally Lapland 2010. Here are a few…
Kimi Räikkönen, day 1:
Kimi Räikkönen, day 2:
Kimi Räikkönen, on-board showing Kimi’s C4WRC after his accident on SS2:
Thanks to Ludtati for all the videos.
Räikkönen went off already on the second special stage in the Arctic Lapland Rally in Finland yesterday. Despite that, it was quite an impressive competitive debut in Citroen C4 WRC for the former Formula 1 driver. He set second fastest time already on the first special stage, and continued to post competitive times throughout the weekend, after getting back from the SS2 ditch with a big delay and time penalty.
Räikkönen’s experienced co-driver Kaj Lindström commented after SS9 that the difference to Sordo was 0.9 seconds per kilometer, and at the same time stated that the duo knew they were going slowed than they could – partly because the car setting still wasn’t 100% adapted to Räikkönen’s preferences. Even Kimi himself said at the that he didn’t think it would be very difficult to drive faster, since he knew that the car wasn’t really as he wanted it to be.
Personally, I think Räikkönen got a good and really impressive start. An early off was probably just good for him, since that showed him exactly were the limit was and it also took the overall placement totally off his shoulders. With nothing to fight for in the rally, Kimi could put his focus just on improving his own driving and the car while still having the possibility to compare himself to others, stage by stage.
What I doubt a little bit more is the easiness of going faster. Kimi seems perfectly comfortable by being slower as he knows it’s “the car settings’ fault”. That’s probably perfectly true, but that’s also half the challenge in rallying. You must get a good setup of the car that works from stage to stage. Of course F1 is also much about fine tuning of car settings, but the conditions there are often a little bit more stable. In rallying you’re driving for a longer time and over longer distances, and conditions may vary much or extremely much (Rally Monte Carlo is the perfect example). That’s a part of the challenge and shouldn’t be underestimated.
However, to sum it up I’m really impressed by Kimi’s performance – and it will be a big pleasure to see his developments throughout the season. Go Kimi! 
This weekend, Kimi Räikkönen and co-driver Kaj Lindström has made their first test in the Citroën C4WRC on snow, up in northern Finland where they will drive the Arctic Rally next week. Looking at this short video Kimi obviously went flat out immediately on the test road, trying if the suspension of the C4 was up to the challenge of some Finnish jumps… And it was! Short but fantastic clip!
Thanks to ludtati for the video.
Kimi Räikkönen, Citroen C4WRC, Photo: Citroen
Kimi Räikkönen did his first Citroen C4 WRC tests yesterday in Citroens test track outside their factory in Satory, France. The test covered around 50km’s and was successful. Afterwards, Räikkönen talked to Autosport and told that he enjoyed meeting the team. He also stated he wants to get back in the car soon:
- It was good to try out a few different things; I was very interested to see how the car reacted when you changed some of the settings. Now I’m really keen to get back behind the wheel of the C4 again, Räikkönen said.
The good thing for Räikkönen then is that his competitive debut, as known, will be already in the Arctic Rally in Finland later this month – as a preparation for Rally Sweden. I also guess that more tests are planned before that rally.
Kimi Räikkönen in the Citroen C4 WRC, Photo: Citroen
F1 stars are invading rallying! At least a little, if Autosport.com are right in their speculations about Heikki Kovalainen in a Proton Satria S2000 car. According to the site, Kovalainen would be in discussions for a drive in the Arctic Rally in Finland in the end of January – the very same rally where Kimi Räikkönen (already confirmed for a full WRC program, except New Zealand, with Citroen Junior Team) will have his premiere and warm up of the C4 WRC preparing for his 2010 WRC challenge. However, much seems to remain before the Kovalainen plan becomes true.
If it does, I wouldn’t complain… Nothing is better for rallying than stars with already big names entering the sport. However, I think Kovalainen would have to watch out – none of the F1 guys will have an easy ride in a brand new car and in a so different sport. Probably they would both be happy not to be in the same class – so they at least don’t have to be compared to each other…
After scoring 13th place recently in his rally debut in the Arctic Rally, Finnish newspapers report today that Kimi Räikkönen will be back for the Vaakuna Rally the upcoming weekend. Obviously the debut in the Abarth Grande Punto made an impression (not a big surprise!) on the Formula 1 World Champion. Good to the rally sport – since Kimi is a true superstar that brings a lot of attention to the sport.
Kimi Räikkönen made his rally-debut earlier this weekend doing the Arctic Lapland Rally in Finland. A 13th place is not at all bad considering he’s not a rally driver – but a racer. The rally seems to have been a huge success regarding PR and spectators – but I’m afraid we wont see Räikkönen back in a rally car. Of course he needs to focus on his racing career – and being a F1 champion he has nothing to win but everything to lose by being a regular in rally. However, as a one time PR thing he obviously thought it was OK.
See some nice clips of Räikkönen (made by Kimismely) in his Punto here:
Finnish 2007 Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen is confirmed to be trying out rallying in the finnish Arctic Rally event. He will drive an Abarth Punto Super2000 car with co-driver Kaj Lindström, former co-driver of Tommi Mäkinen, along others. The event, held in northern finland the 22nd-24th of January is likely to recieve an enormous media boost by the entry.
Besides the entry of Kimi, Mika Häkkinen is supposed to do his third start in the rally.
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