Ex-Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen has spoken about the special attachment he has to Rally Finland, venue of round eight of the World Rally Championship this week. Raikkonen, who will be making his first appearance on the high-speed gravel event in a World Rally Car after his debut in a Super 2000 machine last season, said: “Rally Finland is something that I grew up watching when I was small, so it feels very special for me to be competing here now.”
The Red Bull-backed Citroen Junior Team driver, 30, crashed out of the event in 2009 but says he is a lot better prepared second time around.
“It’s so exciting to drive the car on these roads,” said Raikkonen. “Finland is probably the closest a gravel rally gets to being on asphalt. Some of the roads are really fast and smooth; others are twisty and bumpier. A rally car isn’t as fast as a Formula One car, but when you are flat-out between the trees, believe me, it feels just as quick.”
Raikkonen’s co-driver Kaj Lindstrom will be competing on Rally Finland for an 11th time this season. He recalls Raikkonen’s first appearance on the event with fondness.
“We were just in a Super 2000 car but straight away we were in the top three of the class, and it was clear just how much speed and natural talent he had in rallying,” said Lindstrom. “Obviously our task is a bit more complicated this year, but there’s no real pressure either: we had a useful test and we’re just going to go out there, do our best, and try to put on a really nice show.”
Source: MaxRally
