After the shakedown on the Rally Bulgaria, which is new to the WRC this year, Kimi Raikkonen spoke exclusively to Redbull.com about his thoughts on the rally, Bulgarian cuisine, getting back to asphalt... and Formula One.
RB: Kimi, how much easier is it going to be for you on asphalt as opposed to gravel? Asphalt is sort of more your thing...
KR: “Well that’s true enough. But rallying is still so new to me that this makes almost no difference. I’m still more unfamiliar with rallying than I am familiar with asphalt, if you see what I mean. In fact, it’s only my first asphalt rally in the WRC. So it’s not easy.”
RB: But you did one practice rally before, the Rally della Lanterna in Italy last month, and you were quick there. In fact you were leading for most of it. So that must have been very encouraging...
KR: Yes it’s true that this was a good experience and it was nice to lead a rally for the first time. But really, Bulgaria will be very different as a rally and also there will be many more tough competitors than there were on the Lanterna Rally. I didn’t notice Sebastien Loeb there for a start! So let’s not jump to any big conclusions.
RB: What’s the Bulgaria Rally like?
KR: “Very difficult actually. It’s obviously asphalt, but some of the asphalt is quite old and broken up. You have some very quick parts that are almost like a racing circuit but also some very slow and twisty parts. One of the biggest problems is that you have plants and small trees very close to the side of the road and this means that you cannot see through the corners; most of them are blind. Then you have the weather that can change a lot, today it was raining like hell in the afternoon for example but over the weekend I heard from someone that it could be nearly 30 degrees. You just don’t know. If this was a racing circuit, I suppose it would be like the old Nürburgring Nordschliefe!
RB: Speaking of racing, what are your thoughts on the Formula One season so far? Have you been following it?
KR: “A little bit but not so much to be honest. From what I can see it will come down to a battle between the Red Bulls and the McLarens, particularly Lewis Hamilton, who I think has been very strong so far this year. The Red Bull has been the quickest car but unfortunately it has had a bit of unreliability and that has cost some points. If this is sorted for the rest of the season then it should be a very good fight.”
RB: What about your own future: any further thoughts?
KR: “Not really. I’m just enjoying doing what I’m doing for now but soon I need to think about what I’m doing next year, probably after Rally Finland next month. I’m actually in no hurry and I don’t miss Formula One. If the right opportunity came along then you never know but also rallying is a sport that is all about experience and maybe it would be a shame not to continue to use the experience that I have built up so far in this sport.”
RB: What do you think of Bulgaria as a place?
KR: “It’s quite nice although the food is not so good! The rally is based in Borovets, which is a skiing resort. I love winter sports so I have a good feeling. Hopefully I’ll have the same good feeling on Sunday night..”
Source: RedBull.com
Courtesy: Julia
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