Räikkönen returns to rallying

Kimi Räikkönen will return to World Rally Championship duty in Greece next week, almost two months after he made his last appearance in the series in Jordan, where he finished sixth in his Ice 1 Racing Citroen DS3 WRC

Since then the ex-Formula One world champion has made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut, finishing 15th at Charlotte, a result he followed up by claiming 27th on his first appearance in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at the same venue one week later.

Räikkönen has yet to compete on the Loutraki-based Acropolis Rally and will be braced for a tough test on the punishing gravel stages. He spent today (Wednesday) reacclimatising to the rigours of driving his turbocharged Citroen on gravel roads during a test near Marseille in the south of France where he covered approximately 150 kilometres.

Benoit Nogier, who manages the Citroen Racing Technologies operation, the company responsible for running Raikkonen’s DS3 WRC, spoke to Wrc.com following the test. He said: “We were very happy with his performance in Jordan and he has a good opportunity for Greece. We found a road with a condition as close as possible to Greece and Kimi was quite happy. It will be a tough rally, not necessarily for the drivers but for the cars. The first day is very long with only a remote service but Kimi is not a rookie anymore and will be able to manage this situation.”

Räikkönen, who is co-driven by fellow Finn Kaj Lindstrom, will be anxious to kick start his promising 2011 WRC campaign in Greece after skipping the last two rounds in Italy and Argentina. He had described his performance on the Jordan Rally in mid-April as his best in the series so far and would have equalled his career-best fifth place but for a late puncture.

“The driving has been better and we’re pushing harder now,” Räikkönen was quoted as saying recently. “My only target really is to improve in the WRC.”

The Acropolis Rally will mark the fourth of Räikkönen’s planned 10 appearances in the WRC. He’s currently ninth in the drivers’ standings on 18 points. Ice 1 Racing is sixth in the manufacturers’ standings with 26 points.

Source: WRC

Rally more difficult to learn for Räikkönen than Nascar

Kimi Räikkönen is an inborn track-racer. That was once again proved to the whole motorsporting world when the F1-champion drove without practising his Nascar-debut in an oval race from start to finish without spinning even once during the battle.

Räikkönen will continue this new adventure next Saturday on this same Charlotte oval, but this time he will drive in Nascar's 2nd highest class Nationwide, where the powers and the drivability of the cars are something completely different than the truck-cars.

The feelings on Friday in Charlotte's track-area spoke for themself over how much the success meant for Räikkönen.

Usually you don't get Nascar-spurs in a jiffy, therefore Räikkönen's performance got the American experts to research the statistics to see how other rookies have started from truck-level.

Rookie-Räikkönen was the best of the three former F1-drivers after Nelson Piquet junior spun in the end and Max Papis crashed at an early stage.

The mechanics who took care of Räikkönen's Toyota Tundra got only speedy thanks from the driver. Räikkönen hit the wall twice but he avoided the spins, which are very common in the race.

– Kimi already left - and he was really happy, mechanics told me when searching for him.

Räikkönen was surrounded by the American media but when it was over he rushed with his trusteés to the pits where the tv was on showing San Jose's and Vancouver's hockey game.

Not normal track-racing

Räikkönen's body language spoke for itself. The man had fully enjoyed racing which ended after many phases in 15th position out of 36 drivers. At his best Räikkönen was 5th and at his lowest he was 34th.

Did the passion for track-racing come back?

– I have to say that it was really fun again. Of course this is different than what is understood by tracks. Here we drive much more closer than I'm used to. In F1 you rarely see several cars side by side, Räikkönen said.

A year ago in January Kimi Räikkönen drove rally in a WRC-car for the first time – and hit a tree during Tunturi-rally's second stage. The first race with a heavily steered Nascar-car was predicted to be as tough but still he drove without a care in the world all the 134 laps to the finish.

– It's much more difficult to start rally, Räikkönen reminded.

The safety car was sent to the track ten times all and all. It messed up all the drivers driving rhythm.

– The car started to work better the longer the stints were. It was just unfortunate that there were so many SC-incidents. After them it always took a while before the car worked as it was supposed to work. Had I got to make longer stints then the result would also have been better - and you always want to finish closer to the top.

Same brake every time

Räikkönen lost most oftenly his position especially in re-starts.

– The same car was ahead of me every single time. In re-starts it first accelerated and then braked. I couldn't get anywhere. I drove many times flat-out right into it so that it would go somewhere else, Räikkönen said.

– In the end a spin was close when I tried to overtake it and couldn't get past. I dared to go faster and faster all the time. It depends a lot on which side of the track you are - outside or inside. If you are on the inside and another one comes beside you then it can take off the air and you spin really easily.

How fast did you learn the game rules of a Nascar-race?

– It didn't take a long time. Of course it's easier the second time when you already know the rules beforehand.

New car, familiar track

Charlotte's organizers were shining out of happiness when it started to become certain that Räikkönen would drive again on Saturday on the same track in a Nationwide-race.

– A Nationwide-car has more powers and as far as I know it's better to drive. On this track it doesn't matter where you are when driving with another car.

– Of course it helps when you know the track although the car is different. It gives an advantage when you now know how you can make the re-starts in a better way. We had a good pace now too as long as I could drive a little longer, Räikkönen thanked.

Useless to try, Busch will win (in Finnish it rhimes: Turha koittaa, Busch voittaa)

Räikkönen's ICE1 Racing -team leased a Truck-car from Kyle Busch Motorsports and the same will happen with the Nationwide-car. Conveniently Busch had got himself an extra car just for Kimi's sake.

Kyle Busch won his third truck-race in a row. On top of that he starts from pole on Saturday night to hunt for the one million dollars jackpot in the all stars -race of Sprint Cup cars.

Turun Sanomat, Charlotte

HEIKKI KULTA

Courtesy: Nicole

Kimi Räikkönen, Left Turns Equal Right Move At GMP

Reporters and photographers were the first to open the gates at Gresham Motorsports Park this morning as they awaited the arrival of Kimi Raikkonen, former F1 Champion. Raikkonen arrived in America this past weekend to make his first test run at GMP today. He has signed with Kyle Busch Motorsports to run a limited schedule in the NASCAR Camping World Truck series and will make his NCWTS debut at Charlotte on May 20, 2011.

The 2007 Formula One Champion is a native of Finland and currently drives in the World Rally Car Series since leaving Formula One in 2009. Raikkonen will be a familiar face to some of the NASCAR drivers including Juan Pablo Montoya and Nelson Piquet Jr., who were both former F1 drivers.

“Gresham Motorsports Park is proud to have Raikkonen choose this track for his first-ever NASCAR test,” said Gresham Motorsports Park’s General Manager, Dan Elliott. “We know that Kimi will be successful no matter where he competes."

Raikkonen plans to run a two-day closed test at GMP in preparation for his NCWTS debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Education Lottery 200 on May 20, 2011.

Please visit our website, www.GreshamMotorsportsPark.com, for information and details about the upcoming year at GMP. Also, join the GMP fan page on facebook or follow GMP on Twitter.

Source: GMP
Courtesy: Sleenster

Kimi's Column: SECOND TIME'S THE CHARM

Kimi Rally de Portugal preview in Finnish

I was left with good feelings from Rally Sweden. It went better the second time than it went last year. It will be interesting now to see how it goes for us this weekend.

In Portugal, now that we are driving there for the second time also.

I remember the roads from last year. It's really a very challenging place. You have to drive precisely according to the note with your tongue right in the middle of your mouth because you have stones and stumps ahead of you and behind you. What is new is that the rally starts from Lissabon and there is also a completely new stage on the route.

This is our first rally on gravel with this car. I like the car. It's sort of more handy and it fits better in my hand.
As a gravel rally Portugal is one of the most trickiest when your have to twist and turn all the time. I think that only Jordan is a wee bit more worse than Portugal beause the roads in Jordan are so slippery all way long.

Last week we had one testing day in France. I got a good feeling of it. We fixed the setups a bit and got a good feeling of the car. In that sense it's cool to go to a race again.

The others got a bit of leverage because we didn't go to Mexico. They have now more experience of these new cars. Of course Portugal is a completely different place than Mexico. We are on Europe's side and the air isn't as thin as it is there in the mountains. We get to use all the powers and it's always cool to get everything out of a car.

The goals are the same as they were in Sweden: We try to drive as fast as we can and avoid bigger blunders. It went well in the first rally and if it goes well again then we should get a good result.

The learning continues. We have to drive precisely during the weekend and get the notes to hit in place.

Lets wait and see how it goes this time.

Source: KIMIRAIKKONEN.COM
Courtesy: Nicole

Räikkönen happy after pre- Portugal test

Kimi Räikkönen has voiced his satisfaction to team boss Benoit Nogier following a test in France yesterday (Wednesday)

The 2007 Formula One world champion covered approximately 150 kilometres at a venue in the east of the country as he continued his preparations for next week’s Vodafone Rally de Portugal.

Räikkönen is returning to the WRC with his ICE 1 Racing team after deciding not to include Rally Guanajuato Mexico on his schedule of events for this season.

“He was very happy with the feeling of the Citroën DS3 WRC,” said Nogier, the man responsible for overseeing Räikkönen’s transition to rallying. “One day was not a lot of time for Kimi because he had to combine discovering the car on gravel and working on the different choices and options for his set-up for the rally. But it was a success although he prefers the new car because it is more reactive than before and for him it’s better.”

Nogier said finding a suitable venue for the test had proved troublesome because of persistent rain in areas of France, which resulted in new Citroën signing Peter van Merksteijn Jr’s planned test on Tuesday being cancelled. However, the site used in eastern France for Raikkonen’s run had been largely free of rain for the past three weeks and was mainly dry during Wednesday’s test.

Of Räikkönen’s chances in Portugal, Nogier was similarly upbeat. “It’s always a difficult rally with tough stages but his performance in Sweden makes us confident,” said Nogier. “He knows the rally and knows what the problems are. He had a good feeling with the car after the test so he can be okay.”

Finn Räikkönen finished 10th on Rally de Portugal last season alongside co-driver Kaj Lindström.

Source: WRC

Loeb: Kimi's lack of success a good thing

Seven-time World Rally champion Sebastien Loeb admits to being relieved that Kimi Räikkönen has not done too well in the World Rally Championship series.

- It has been a good thing from the point of view of the level of the World Rally Championships series. This shows that it is not easy for the former F1 champion to win in rally, said Loeb, who is preparing for the World Rally Championship round in Mexico, in an interview with the local magazine Excélsior.

To date, Räikkönen's career-best rally result is fifth place in last season's Rally of Turkey. However, Loeb does not overlook the Formula One champion's skills.

- Kimi is a good driver and can show flashes at any time, Loeb said.

Raikkonen will skip Mexico's leg, which starts tonight Finnish time.

Source: MTV3
Courtesy: sleenster

It's a relief Kimi is not coming back

When Kimi Räikkönen quit Formula One to go top flight rallying, there were few feelings of regret through the paddock ranks and, indeed, a sigh of "good riddance" from some.

The glum-faced Finn's refrigerated persona and dead-pan response to most questions posed beyond the precincts of a nightclub bar after midnight where he was more relaxed endeared him to few in Formula One.

On the other hand, his transfixing ability and speed when he put his mind to it triggered widespread admiration, more especially when he captured the world crown with Ferrari in 2007 before his stardom faded under the onslaught of, first, Lewis Hamilton and then the Briton's subsequent McLaren teammate Jenson Button. But he forsook his near £30 million (Dh178 million) a year wages with the Prancing Horse legends and gave up grands prix for international rallying two years ago for a fraction of Ferrari salary.

Since then, and with mixed fortunes and some scary crashes over the rough stuff, the 31-year-old has pondered on the wisdom of his fleeing the F1 scene with spasmodic temptations for him to return. The latest, after he was wooed by Renault at the end of last year, was to be mooted for the seat left vacant by Robert Kubica's unfortunate and perhaps career-ending crash in a no-account rally in which he almost lost a hand and has suffered 24 hours of surgery since.

No interest

But Räikkönen, no doubt boosted by his encouraging eighth place in the Swedish World Rally round, has dampened any flames of hope of his comeback, a la Michael Schumacher, by insisting: "I have no interest in returning to Formula One". He left no room for doubt, no hint that he could be stalling for a big pay day or that the magic of F1 still tempts him, when he summarily dismissed the rumours even as Renault, no doubt fearful of the embarrassment of a rebuttal, plumped instead for German Nick Heidfeld.

"I do not want to talk about Formula One," stressed Citroen works driver Raikkonen, a Grand Prix winner 18 times, second twice and third once in the championship chase as well as being crowned king. "Rallying is where I want to be," he added from behind his familiarly blank face. "And it is good to be back for another season."

So that's that then. Now all of us who have ever tried to stir him to anything other than a stony-faced and cold response to our questions may breathe a sigh of relief.

Source: GulfNews

Robert Kubica 'recovering well' says his surgeon

Robert Kubica is recovering well and is psychologically "strong", according to a surgeon who has operated on him

The 26-year-old Pole has been in hospital near Genoa, Italy, since he was seriously hurt in a crash while competing in a rally on 6 February.

Dr Igor Rossello said: "The good news is there have been no complications following all the surgery he has had.

"He is doing pretty well and his condition is positive considering what he has been through."

Dr Rossello, who operated on Kubica's right hand, which was nearly severed in the crash, added: "What is very important is there is no sign of infection, which is the main concern, and he also no longer needs intensive care, so he has begun the rehabilitation process."

He added that Kubica, who finished eighth in the 2010 drivers' table, had regained "a little bit of sensitivity" in the hand and was able to slightly flex his fingers.

Kubica has undergone three operations since his car left the road in the Ronde di Andora.

In addition to the hand injury, he sustained multiple fractures to a leg and arm.

The medical team attending Kubica say he will spend at least two more weeks at the Santa Corona hospital in Petra Ligure, while he is recovering from the operations.

Kubica is expected to miss the entire 2011 season, although he told Gazzetta dello Sport last week that he was aiming to return to F1 before the end of the year.

Renault have since named his former BMW Sauber team-mate Nick Heidfeld as his stand-in.

"He [Kubica] is no longer in pain and his psychological condition is pretty good," added Rossello, in an interview on the Renault website.

"He's obviously keen to start the rehabilitation work as soon as possible. For the next couple of weeks he will stay here so we can monitor his condition.

"During that time there is still the possibility of infection and other complications, so he will have the dressings on his hand changed every few days."

Source: BBC Sport

Alonso feared for injured star Kubica; Heidfeld to replace Pole

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has spoken of his "shock and surprise" on hearing of his friend Robert Kubica's crash during a rally in Italy.

Ferrari ace Alonso has known the Pole for over 15 years as they competed against each other in go-karting before progressing through to the Formula One ranks.

"It was not so clear he was going to survive," the Spaniard told CNN as he recounted his initial conversation with Kubica's manager.

"I tried to drive to the hospital to find out exactly what his injuries were," before Alonso said he received more positive news.

"Now he is recovering well and we hope to see him back very soon in F1," he added.

Alonso also defended Kubica's decision to take part in a rally so close to the start of the season, which is due to begin in Bahrain next month.

"We need to have something to get some adrenalin out of our system and rallying is good training from an F1 driver's point of view."

He added: "I train on a bicycle ever day, and a couple of weeks ago a friend and myself were out riding and a truck cut in front us.

"A few meters nearer and we would have crashed into it. You cannot cut out risk."

Kubica is recovering after a series of operations at the Santa Corona hospital in Pietra Ligure, following the serious injuries he sustained in the rally 10 days ago.

On Wednesday, his Lotus-Renault team announced that German Nick Heidfeld would take Kubica's drive while he continues his recuperation.

Heidfeld partnered Kubica at BMW Sauber for three and half years from 2006-09 and impressed in testing for Renault in Jerez last week.

The 33-year-old told the team's official website: "I would have liked to come back to Formula One in different circumstances, but I'm proud to have been given this chance."

Renault's first reserve, Bruno Senna, and Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi, were also linked with the drive.

source: CNN

Veikkaaja magazine: The training continues

From Veikkaaja magazine (paper edition)

By Janne Aittoniemi

This season will show if Kimi Räikkönen still has any real chances of rising up to the top in rally. The change of WRC-cars will help Räikkönen but how much?

"Short right 2 and left 2 and left 4 right 6" Kaj Lindström had time to say before it crashed.

"Are you okay? How the fuck did it hit the edge?" Räikkönen wondered a moment later.

It was an embarrasing crash in Catalynia Rally's super stage in October. The Citroen that started falling from the inside ditch went in such a bad shape that the duo weren't able to start the rally at all.

I'm sure Kimi Räikkönen doesn't want the membership card to the Roof Club this season. Last season he made big driver mistakes and many of them were in the same class as blunders in the junior class. He drove out in easy and slow-paced places. Räikkönen's small experience in rally became clearly visible.

"In rally mistakes come easily. They are part of this sport. Let's hope that this second season will be a bit easier and we can improve in every department", Lindström says.

Räikkönen who founded a racing team called ICE1RACING is continuing his career in the wonderous world of rally and nothing bad with that. He doesn't miss back to F1 although he drove a Ferrari 16 months ago and made more money in F1 than any other driver has ever made.

There is still attraction in Räikkönen's persona although he has put himself in a situation where he has to rent a car from Citroen in order to be able to continue rallying on top level. No other team or sponsor will pay Räikkönen millions anymore but he is still a star driver everywhere he is known.

"Kimi's value to the WRC-serie is spectacular. He has brought the serie really much more publicity", WRC-rally commission's chairman Jarmo Mahonen reminds.

Yet old F1-merits won't carry Kimi further anymore. He can improve his situation in WRC only by driving.

"I believe that Kimi will rise closer to the top this year. If he doesn't then Kimi has some soul searching to do", Mahonen says.

The new kind of WRC-cars could in fact carry Räikkönen closer to the top. At least in theory the difference between Räikkönen and the lead should grow smaller due to the new cars, because Loeb, Hirvonen and many others had immensly more experience of the earlier WRC-cars.

Although the cars have changed, the same men from last year continue this year too. The new Dutch junior drivers Dennis Kuipers and Peter van Merksteijn should not pose any threat to Räikkönen. The Mini-men who come in the spring, Kris Meeke and Dani Sordo, are faster than Räikkönen but their car might be slow and unreliable at first. I'm sure Räikkönen can fight for the last points at least.

"It's pretty much the same gang as last year too. However Ford have some new drivers and I'm looking with interest at especially Mads Östbergs performances. He seems like a pretty fast guy", Lindström thinks.

Räikkönen and Lindström start this season without any goals for positions.

"It might be boring to say this again but I don't think we should put up any other goals than improving from last year. There's no reason to start building up pressure that there would be a certain position we would be trying to get from each rally", Lindström said.

Last year Räikkönen got his best position from Turkey where he came in 5th. There Räikkönen got to drive on smooth and natural roads which he likes really much. The curly stages clearly fits him much less.

Räikkönen gave flashes of his talents in for example Fredriksberg's stage in Sweden and Suwayma's stage in Jordania. Short stages on tarmac usually suited Räikkönen well. He set his only fastest stage time in Trier's city-stage in Germany but the other drivers were already taking it safe trying to secure their own position.

"We also got those clean performances after which we could say that this stage went just as it was supposed to go. I remember especially Fredriksberg's stage in Sweden. It was a very difficult stage and we will drive it this year too", Lindström tells.

"We often noticed with Kimi that a stage that was beforehand known as difficult went better than the easier stages. When the concentration stays on a good level in driving, Kimi's way to handle a car is good also on difficult stages."

It's great for Räikkönen's sake that he gets to work with the same engineers and mechanics from Citroen he worked with last year.

"We have the same package we had last year too. We get all the maintenance and service from Citroen the same way and the same dudes will circle around the car", Lindström tells.

"The latest information is that the race engineer will also be the same as last year and Benoit Nogier will continue to be our boss. As a matter of fact pretty much nothing changes except that we won't be racing under Citroen's Junior team, we race under our own team's name."

Taking away top technology from the cars might improve Kimi's chances.

"It could be a good thing for Kimi. We go a bit backwards technology-wise and go back to for example stick gears. However I have heard some rumours from Ford that the new cars would even be faster than the old cars", Lindström tells.

He also reminds that changing from Pirelli to Michelin is a big question mark.

"Nobody knows yet for certain how well Michelin's tyres endure in racing situations and how many punctures there will be. Let's hope that the thing doesn't turn into such that by driving in the middle of the road without a puncture you will get the best result."

Citroen has promised Räikkönen as many testing days as he has WRC-starts meaning 10-12. One testing day every now and then isn't quite enough. Räikkönen has achieved his current basic level mainly with his talent but from now on he gets upwards only by studying things hard and and training.

This was written just before Rally Sweden.

Courtesy: Nicole

Vettel: Kubica should continue rallying

Sebastian Vettel is hoping Robert Kubica's horrific rally accident will not have dampened the Pole's passion for the sport

Last Sunday while contesting the opening stage of the Ronde di Andora rally in Liguria, Kubica suffered career-threatening injuries when he lost control at high speed, crashing into a guard rail and ending up in a church wall.

The Lotus Renault driver has already undergone two surgeries, one to save the functionality of his right hand and a second to rebuild his foot, shoulder and the inner part of his elbow.

The doctors are optimistic about his recovery, although have revealed that a third operation is needed on his arm.

Asked about his Polish rival during testing at Jerez, Vettel told Autosport: "First of all I think the most important message was that he didn't lose his hand, everything is still there and as far as we heard after the operation he's had quite a good recovery already.

"The most important thing is he's coming back to his normal strength and normal health, which will take a long time probably. He's quite young considering his life, so it's important that everything works naturally."

Kubica's accident has raised questions about the wisdom of his Formula One team permitting him to take part in rallies.

Vettel believes the team made the right decision as rallying is a passion of Kubica's, adding that he hopes the accident will not have robbed him of his love for the sport.

"We hope that very soon he will be strong enough to drive a Formula 1 car again and maybe do some rallies again - because he loves rallies a lot, he is a big fan," said the Red Bull driver.

"It was not his first rally and I think it was a very unlucky place to crash. I think he was lucky in the end, but also obviously very unlucky.

"Obviously it was a big shock for all of us. You hear a lot of stories when something happens. The most important thing is he's alive and he didn't lose his hand.

"I think he knows that there is always a risk when you do things like that, the same as when you go out here (in F1). Motorsport is like that. He's had quite a lot of big crashes in his career so far - most of the time not his fault."

As to whether Vettel will try his hand at it, he said: "I still think rallying is a very fascinating sport. "One day I might do it myself, but obviously when you get this kind of message it's a big shock.

"Maybe if I should rally at some stage I'll start in the snow where there are no barriers..."

Source: Planet-F1

Räikkönen is now the master of his own rally team

Kimi Räikkönen drives his blackish brand new Citroen DS3 WRC-car as the master of his ICE1 Racing team in Sweden. His mullet is even longer and can't be hidden underneath his big Red Bull -beanie. The speed has improved a bit since last year, now that this new car suits the man's driving style better

Yet Räikkönen says that nothing has changed from last year although his time with Citroen's Junior team ended.

– We did things the same way we did last year. It was better to come up with something and make an own team if I still wanted to drive rally. This was the easiest option, Räikkönen tells.

The model is the same as Petter Solberg's.

You registered to Sweden in the last minute. Was everything put together at the last moment?

– I wouldn't say that anything happened in the last moment, Räikkönen calms.

Was your continuance in rally clear already last autumn?

– No it wasn't but nothing would have changed even if we would have announced during the last race that we will drive this year also. We couldn't have drove any more than we could now because the new cars weren't ready.

Could you aswell had switched to Ford and drove rally with Fiesta?

– I would have got a good car from there too with the same system. There is no difference to last year. It's just easier for me to continue here because I already spent a year with these people.

A bunch of French speaking mechanics from Citroen are working around Räikkönen's car. Nobody outside the factory wouldn't even be allowed to touch the new cars, computers and engines.

Räikkönen keeps his possible goals as his own secret. It would be logical to go for 6th unless Ford has escaped from Citroen.

– Let's drive and see. After that we see how we do.

In Thursday shakedown Räikkönen drove seven times an 8 kilometer test stage. Is the car different when compared to C4 WRC?

– There aren't many differences. It's a Super 2000-style car. It's more good in your hands and I think it turns easier, Räikkönen said. He has the experience of four rallies in 2009 with Fiat S2000.

Does this fit your driving style better?

– So far it has felt pretty good. It's difficult to say how it will go when it's the real deal.

There was raining snow in Hagfors and it will rain at least until Friday morning. The new snow didn't fit Michelin's spiky tyres at all.

– The new tires seem to be tricky because once you got just a little on the snow there was no grip left and it went into a waterslide. Although snow is a great element under normal conditions, Räikkönen said.

Räikkönen tested only for one day the new car to Sweden.

– But that wasn't a full day either since the engine broke down because it had probably been used in all Citroen's tests.

Kaj Lindström quickly lists the differences between this year's and last year's Citroen.

– This is smaller by size, the engine is different and the transmission is ordered by a stick. The biggest difference is the lack of centerlocking. That's why the car is a bit different to drive when it rams a bit and doesn't turn as easily.

Räikkönen's schedule is so wide that some track races could be placed inbetween - like for example Le Mans 24 h in June?

– Let's see what happens. I don't know anything yet and I don't have anything to tell, Räikkönen said.

Then will we possibly see Räikkönen in a F1-car this year or sometime later?

– It's difficult to say, Räikkönen defined.
The Finn has been taken to Renault to replace Robert Kubica only in the wildest rumours.

Turun Sanomat, Hagfors

Courtesy: Nicole

End of rally permissions

Motorsport is always dangerous as we all know. Although the F1-cars have the fastest speed, GP-teams are very reluctant to give their drivers permission to drive anywhere else - especially in rally.

Robert Kubica's hard fate on Sunday morning ensured that in the future no F1-driver will get any special permissions to drive rally as a hobby anymore.

Kimi Räikkönen was priviledged during his last season in Ferrari and he got with the blessing of Luca di Montezemolo a car from Fiat so he could fit in a few rally races in the openings that the F1-calendar offered.

Kubica told me in 2009 that he envied Kimi because his fingers were also burning for rally but BMW didn't at that time have a car for it and they especially didn't want to give their driver permission to drive when the risks of injuries are so big.

When Kubica switched over to Renault he ensured that his contract gave him a special right to drive rallies whenever they wouldn't interefere with this working schedule in F1.

Kubica wasn't able to drive in Monte Carlo but it had nothing to do with a negative attitude from the F1-team, it was only because there was no four-wheeler for winter conditions at hand.

Therefore Kubica was delighted to grab the opportunity when there was a mini-rally in Italy between testing in Valencia and Jerez. The consequences were disastrous when Kubica's Skoda Fabia went out of his hands in full speed.

It will remain to be seen if the Polish star can drive again since eight years ago he broke the same elbow and could barely come back to the tracks again.

Renault is now in a need of a top class driver to replace their number 1 man. Vitali Petrov can't do that as can't any of the youngsters who are in reserve.

Last year Renault was luring Kimi Räikkönen in but instead of negotiations the project only seemed to get Petrov's supporters more generous. Now Räikkönen is dedicated only to his own private team ICE1 Racing in WRC and when Kimi has decided something there is nothing that can turn his head.

And I doubt that Renault either has the will to invest in so big driver markets that getting a replacement for a top name like Kubica would require.

Turun Sanomat

HEIKKI KULTA

Courtesy: Nicole

KUBICA REHAB COULD BE SIX MONTHS OR MORE

Hand reconstruction specialists in Italy are working hard to save the functionality of Robert Kubica’s right hand tonight after a high speed accident in a rally car this morning.

There were reports initially that the Pole risked losing the hand, but that risk has now passed. However it seems that the rehabilitation from a crush injury such as this can be six months or more, which means that the Renault driver may miss the bulk of the season.

Tonight I called a friend in London, Richard Young, who is a plastic surgeon specialising in hand reconstruction at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, for some insight into hand crush injury, of which he has extensive experience.

I wanted to know what the risks are in a situation such as this and likely recovery times. The caveat for all of what follows is that we do not know the precise details and therefore this is not a specific prognosis on Kubica, more some general medical principles for background understanding.

Apparently when they say a hand is at risk of amputation it is because the blood supply, via blood vessels, to the hand has been severed. That is the first thing to restore and that has clearly been done. So now it’s a question of whether the doctors can restore full functionality, to the level which an F1 driver needs. This means repairing the nerves and tendons and their work will determine whether Kubica will race again. How long the recuperation will take depends on how severe the injury was in the first place.

The first point is that the energy in the accident was clearly very great if it also caused long bone injury such as the broken leg and arm which Kubica suffered. Kubica’s hand appears to have been crushed by some armco entering the cockpit. So the extent of the hand crush injury is likely to be severe.

The hand has many small muscles, tendons and nerves which if crushed are likely to reduce the ability to roll the fingers in and to make fine movements, such as picking up a pin or in the case of an F1 driver, operate the buttons and dials on the steering wheel. Damage to the nerves will impair feeling and this can take at least three months to return.

As for rehabilitation it is long – maybe six months or more depending on the severity of the crush – and crucially there is no short cut. Sometimes when athletes break a bone they can speed up the repair by sitting in a chamber to boost oxygen or blood flow, but that will not apply in this case.

Here we are dealing with tendons and these must be protected for up to three months before any effort can be put through them, otherwise the tendons rupture again. Also if there is severe damage to nerves in the forearm the ability to make fine movements can be lost.

As I said, we haven’t heard from the medical people yet, but these are some of the thoughts and insights of an experienced and active hand reconstruction surgeon.

Source: James Allen on F1

Kubica 'seriously injured' in rally crash

Robert Kubica has been seriously injured in a rallying accident

Preliminary reports claim that the Renault driver has suffered 'several fractures' after overturning his Skoda Fabia when he left the road at high speed and crashed into a wall on the opening stage.

His co-driver, Jacub Gerber, reportedly emerged from the wreck unhurt but Kubica had to be helped from the car.

The Pole, who was taking part in the Super2000 category of the Rally Ronde di Andora, was then flown to hospital, having suffered 'several fractures.'

Initial reports suggest he has broken one, if not both, of his wrists.

Source: Planet-F1

Kimi Räikkönen starts tests on saturday

On Saturday the Grassland, Kimi Räikkönen begins testing DS3 Citroën WRC. Fin credited ten rounds of the World Cup in the same team, which raced last year. There was only a change of name of Citroën Junior Team Racing on the Ice 1. The program ran out of Mexico, Argentina and Sardinia.

- Kimi this year will receive about 10-12 days of testing - said team manager 1 Racing Ice, Benoit Nogier. - Still talking about the program. You can start in more rallies, but it all depends on money.

- What can I do? - Olivier Quesnel said, when asked about Räikkönen calendar starts. - Kimi no money for the full program, but it is not stretch them out of his pocket!

Source: Autoklub
Courtesy:sleenster

Räikkönen to keep rallying with own team in 2011

Kimi Räikkönen has ended speculation about his motor racing career by signing up for another season of the world rally championship (WRC).

After talks about a possible return to F1 broke down, and then the death of his father Matti two days before Christmas, rumours had suggested F1’s 2007 world champion might hang up his helmet.

Having made his debut with Citroen’s junior team in 2010, the 31-year-old Finn has now formed his own team called ICE 1 Racing to run a Citroen DS3 WRC.

L’Equipe in France said the team is funded by Räikkönen’s own sponsors.

The WRC confirmed that his entry for the opening Swedish rally was received "shortly" before this week’s deadline.

L’Equipe said Räikkönen’s has committed to 10 of the 13 rallies in 2011.

"With Kimi’s limited experience, it may be better to do additional testing while the others are competing," his manager Steve Robertson told Finland’s Turun Sanomat.

The 2011 season begins in mid February.

Räikkönen told the official WRC website that he considered returning to F1 this year.

"Of course I thought about it, because you think about everything," he said. "But I never really thought seriously about it, because actually I didn’t miss formula one at all this season."

Source: Motorsport

Kimi Räikkönen will strongly continue his rally-career

- We have agreed upon ten but it's possible that there would be more races, Riku Kuvaja tells.

- We will continue the same way. We also have a test program, Kuvaja tells.

According to Kuvaja the sponsors in Kimi's rally project and a more accurate race program will be published later.

Source: MTV3
Courtesy: Nicole

Kimi's rally contract might take a long time

Turun Sanomat 25.11 2010 20:31:27

More than one rumour has been dwelling around the 31-year old Finn driver Kimi Raikkonen's doings next year.

Steve Robertson has together with his father David Robertson worked hard to ensure their protégé a job as good as possible for season 2011.

- Of course we've always wanted to decide about the next season sooner than later. Sometimes it's just not possible. Hopefully we will know something by the end of November, in which direction we are going, Robertson describes the situation to Turun Sanomat.

- Kim's mind is though in rally, the manager says.

Does Kimi's negotiating department have any more links to F1?

- We have not talked with anyone in F1. Kimi has not closed the door to F1. Never say never if the right offer still would come, Robertson said.

Santander made some room for Fernando Alonso in Ferrari for this year already and Raikkonen had to pack his suitcase in Maranello.

How does Robertson think that Kimi would have done in Alonso's car?

- I think that Kimi would have done pretty much the same way as Fernando did. Fernando drove a great season and I don't want to take anything away from it. Don't take this the wrong way but I think that Kimi would also have a done a good job with that car.

- The whole Ferrari team always works hard as a team. At one stage it looked like Ferrari will lose their position in Championship-battle but they hit back again. That team always fights and that's why they always fight until the end for the championship, Robertson said.

Then what about Räikkönen's first WRC-season seen from the manager's point of view?

- It was as difficult in every way as we expected also. The switch from F1 to WRC requires a lot and getting used to it takes a long time. From Kimi's point of view it was unfortunate that he made the switch as a F1-champion and it lifted the outsiders' expectations up in the roof. They thought that let's give him a couple of rallies and after that we get results.

- One has to be a realist. Success in rally is directly based upon the experience you gain there - not on experience from some other serie.Kimi's competitors have rallied throughout their whole life. Kimi again has raced single-seaters all his life. The difference is like night and day.

- It requires a lot of getting used to so that you learn to drive with the co-driver based upon what you hear and not based upon what you see like in F1, Robertson says.

Turun Sanomat

HEIKKI KULTA

Courtesy: Nicole

Räikkönen and Meeke could be team players

Former Formula One World champion Kimi Räikkönen is being linked to a role alongside Ulsterman Kris Meeke in the new BMW Mini rally team.

The Finn, champion in 2007, was the highest paid driver in F1 before being displaced at Ferrari by Fernando Alonso at the end of the 2009 season.

Rather than move to another team, he switched to rallying and has been part of the Citroen junior team this season, mixing accidents with fast stage times.

Despite stories suggesting a return to F1 next season, Raikkonen has insisted he wants to continue in rallying and now is poised to test the new Prodrive-developed Mini Countryman which will make its World championship bow in the Spring of next year.

Meeke, the 2009 Intercontinental Challenge champion, is the first driver signed by the team but is expected to be joined shortly by Dani Sordo, World champion Sebastien Loeb’s No.2 at Citroen. But Mini, it seems, are interested in Raikkonen as well. Prodrive managing director Richard Taylor said: “Kimi has brought a lot of profile into the WRC so of course he would be of interest to any manufacturer.”

Apart from Räikkönen’s profile there are other reasons for Mini’s interest.

He would come with personal sponsorship from Red Bull — as does Meeke — and the four-wheel-drive Mini Countryman road cars are built in Austria, home of the energy drink company’s founder, Dietrich Mateschitz.

The Mini is also the company’s promotional vehicle of choice. Red Bull are committed to one further year of sponsorship with Citroen but a switch to Mini would coincide with the team’s full assault on the World championship in 2012.

Meeke, meanwhile, has said he would be happy to see Spaniard Sordo join the team.

Currently continuing the Mini development programme in Sardinia, he said: “Apart from the fact we have been friends since out Junior World championship days and have worked together regularly on Citroen’s test days, Dani has good knowledge of the new Citroen DS3 and would bring that expertise with him.

“There are not many guys around with his experience of the new breed of cars which will appear in the World championship next season. He would be a good addition to the team.”

Former World champion Marcus Gronholm had been expected to join the team. But the Finn has changed his mind, saying he “doesn’t want to do a Michael Schumacher.”

Source: Belfast Telegraph