Former Grand Prix champion Kimi Raikkonen has coped well in Portugal against rivals who have a three-year head start on him, according to his co-driver Kaj Lindstrom.“This was always going to be a difficult rally for Kimi, because everyone else has been here three times already but for him it’s completely new,” said the Finn. “Under the circumstances, he’s done very well.”
Raikkonen, who ran towards the bottom of the top 10 from the start of the event, admitted that he found it difficult to master the complex Portuguese stages. “It’s one of the most tricky rallies I have faced so far,” he said. “What I really enjoy is the quick stages, with a flow to them, rather than these more technical stages. And after more than a month out of the car, it’s not easy.”
This will be the Finn’s last gravel rally for a while, as he will contest the Rally della Lanterna in Italy in two weeks time, prior to the Rally Bulgaria at the beginning of July.
“I’ve not driven the car on asphalt yet, but I think it could feel a bit more normal for me,” added Raikkonen. “On the gravel events, every rally has been different.”
The Rally della Lanterna, based in Genoa, will be a tough test for Raikkonen. The narrow asphalt stages are reminiscent of the Sanremo Rally, with several bumps and surface changes.
Source: MaxRally
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