The new kind of rally boom caused by Kimi Räikkönen is not to everybody's liking. One of these people is ex-driver Armin Schwartz. Marketers of WRC have been rubbing their hands together with a satisfied grin on their face since Kimi Räikkönen became the new attraction for the series through a Citroën-contract financed by the energy drink giant Red Bull.
But not everybody is as unconditionally happy with Räikkönen's high profile which has brought visibility to rally in the world's media.
Armin Schwartz, who ended his own career in WRC in 2005, is upset because after Räikkönen's arrival the actual competition has been left in a supporting role.
-It's a pity that I see Räikkönen's triple volt getting half a page of coverage in a news paper when the winner Loeb (Sebastian) has been left as side news, says Schwartz in an interview by internet paper Motorsport Total.
-It doesn't help rally as a sport one bit! says Schwarz.
Schwarz, who has experience of over a hundred WRC rallies, doesn't see Räikkönen's rally future as very rosy. The German doens't believe that Räikkönen's performances will significantly change from what has been seen by now – isolated good SS times and crashes.
-And who knows, maybe this is just temporary for Kimi before he can become a F1 driver for Red Bull, Schwarz hints.
In 2006 Schwarz himself led the Skoda rally team which was strongly supported by Red Bull. The energy drink giant is Räikkönen's personal sponsor and also finances Räikkönen's rally move.
Source: Ilta-Sanomat
Courtesy: Dracaena
