Kimi Räikkönen's preparations for the World Rally Championship season this year have been hasty. Matters outside of rally and the quick schedule have given Räikkönen the opportunity to test the new Citroën DS3 for only one day.
Räikkönen's continuation in rallying was only confirmed at the beginning of January when the sad news regarding his family suspended negotiations.
After that the schedule has been quick and there has only been room for one test day in Sweden during which 250 kilometres of testing was accumulated.
- The schedule is now this and let's go. Before shakedown it is still possible to make a few adjustments, Räikkönen's co-driver Kaj Lindstrom says about preparations for Rally Sweden.
Räikkönen himself has not commented on his new car. According to Lindström, the car fits in the former Formula 1 champion's glove comfortably. Räikkönen leaves for Sweden with the same setups as the drivers of the factory team.
- The first encounter with the new car was very positive. The car feels good - especially from the driver's point of view, Lindstrom says, cautiously.
The expectations for the future season will also be cautiously familiar.
- Last year it went forward a lot, in other words, in driving, in making pacenotes and in listening to pacenotes in every sector. It is hoped that the same development continues and it will still go forward, Lindström hopes.
In any case, the expectations for Räikkönen have increased. With the new cars one should narrow the differences in principle at least, when others are also learning the equipment.
Last year Räikkönen collected 25 world championship points and was tenth in the overall standings of the World Rally Championship series. The highs of the season were the fifth place in Turkey's rally and the fastest time on a special stage of Germany's rally.
- I can give an answer about success now bluntly as always. That is to say, run through the rallies cleanly. When the self-confidence grows, the results also will improve, Lindström laughs.
Räikkönen will drive 10 world championship rallies according to the present agreement. Whether more competitions will be included in the calendar will become clear as the season proceeds.
Of course, in the hectic world of motorsport there may be new plans because at the moment Räikkönen also is mentioned as a substitute for the injured Robert Kubica in the F1 series.
Source: YLE.fi
Courtesy: sleenster
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