Kimi Raikkonen to Rally in 2010

Filed in archive Racing on December 4, 2009

We all know that the Finnish are famous for the rallying, but news that ex-Formula One Champion Kimi Raikkonen will be driving for Citroen’s junior team in the 2010 World Rally Championship has come as a bit of a shock.

The 30--year-old driver will race in 12 of the 13 events for a team who is backed by the ever-present Red Bull. Having won 18 Grand Prix with Sauber, McLaren and Ferrari, who he left earlier than expected at the end of the F1 season, he is searching for a new challenge it seems, and one which is miles from the Grand Prix he has become accustomed to. He has called his one year deal a “very exciting” challenge.

Options have been left open for his return to F1 in 2011, but with a dramatic evolution underway in the sport, has he raced his last Grand Prix? The 2007 Drivers Champion was unable to sign a deal with both Toyota and McLaren (who have taken on current Champion Jensen Button in his stead) after being replaced at Ferrari by Fernando Alonso due to, as we understand it, excessive salary demands.