By Giles Wade
Kimi Räikkönen is reckoned to have agreed a deal to drive for the Citroën Junior Team again next season.Sources close to the French team are certain the Finn will return for a second season, contesting all 13 rallies instead of the 12 he competed in his rookie year. Raikkonen’s management and his primary backer Red Bull have remained tight-lipped about next season.
“Kimi’s deal is done,” said the source. “He’ll be staying with Citroen for another year, but the team name is probably going to change.”
Citroën Racing director Olivier Quesnel admitted the Citroen Junior Team moniker would probably be replaced for next year, given that, since Sebastien Ogier’s elevation to the Citroen Total World Rally Team, there are no young drivers coming through the CJT.
In recent months, Räikkönen has been increasingly keen to remain in the world championship, eschewing a return to Formula 1 despite being strongly linked to a Renault seat.
Sources state an announcement of Räikkönen’s deal to drive a DS3 WRC in 2011 will be made in the New Year.
Räikkönen finished 10th in the World Rally Championship in his debut season, with his best result was fifth on the Rally of Turkey in April.
Source: MaxRally
Courtesy: sleenster
