No Renault rift as Kubica sits out Rally

Robert Kubica is not sitting out next week’s Monte Carlo rally due to contractual restrictions or a rift with Renault, it has been clarified.

It was reported this week that the Pole will miss the famous event because his full-time F1 employer did not give him permission to drive a car other than a Renault.

But Finland’s Turun Sanomat clarified that when it emerged that a four-wheel drive Renault would not be available for Kubica, he simply decided against contesting the rally.

The report said the 26-year-old did not enquire about finding another car to drive, adding that there is "no dispute" between Kubica and Renault.

Source: NextgenAuto

Räikkönen says Monte-Carlo is a classic

Ex-Formula One world champion Kimi Räikkönen has described Rallye Monte-Carlo, the opening round of next year’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge, as a “classic event” amid suggestions that the Finn could tackle the centenary edition of the rally.

Interest in the IRC qualifier has rocketed in recent weeks with organiser, the Automobile Club de Monaco, reporting requests for entries from more than 250 crews ahead of the 6 December deadline for registrations closing.

Räikkönen, who began rallying in 2009, said: “Actually I don’t have any plans fixed for next year yet but I would like to stay in rallying. Of course Monte Carlo is a really classic event for any rally driver but there’s nothing sorted.”

Thirty-one-year-old Räikkönen has some knowledge of the IRC: he attended Rallye International du Valais in Switzerland in 2008 to visit his friend and countryman Anton Alén, who was competing on the one-time IRC round in an Abarth Grande Punto Super 2000. Räikkönen even took time out of his schedule to have an impromptu seat fitting.

Rallye Monte-Carlo takes place from 18-22 January, 2011. It has formed the opening round of the IRC for the past two seasons.

Source: NextgenAuto

Kimi Räikkönen will start his season with the legendary Monte Carlo Rally

Kimi Räikkönen will start his season with the legendary Monte Carlo Rally, Spanish Zeptem-motorsport webpage told

According to the website Räikkönen would continue his rallying career in Citroën and would prepare for testing the new DS3 WRC -car together with Sébastien Loeb and Sébastien Ogier in the near future.

It also tells that PSA-corporation has decided that Räikkönen will participate in Monte Carlo Rally with Peugeot Super 2000 -car.

The Spanish website doesn't tell where it got the information from. Räikkönen said last weekend that he hasn't yet closed any deals for next season.

Source: MTV3
Courtesy: Nicole