Kimi Räikkönen's jester-side is revealed

The new book "Duudsons - 100 ways to save yourself from boredom" also reveals the playful side of Kimi Räikkönen

The Scandinavian daredevils have already become worldfamous and they have become immensly popular in USA, Asia, Europe as well as in Finland also. Duudsons also want to help other small jesters to endure the boring basic weekday and are hence publishing 100 tricks to get some buzz in life.

They have also included own experiences and the coolness of the daredevils has also infected other known Finns. They tell in the book about the event when they visited Kimi Räikkönen's luxurious yacht in Monaco. Back then Kimi's agent had to endure tough times both from his protegé as from his buddies also. 

– When we were in Kimi's yacht in Monaco we found his agent sleeping on the couch. Kimi revealed totally surprising artistic talents when he secretly filled his agent by drawing the most amazing drawings with a pen. Of course we helped him out the best we could. We didn't hold back our creativity, Duudson's revealead.

Duudson's had a party on Kimi's boat year 2011, when they participated in the Gumball-rally. Back then one stage of the rally was in Monaco at the same time as the F1-race.

Source: MTV3
Courtesy: Nicole

7 Päivää: Kimi Räikkönen and his Porkkalanniemi Home

Some more pics of his home in Finland











Source: Seiska

TV-boss promises a special tracking of Räikkönen

Year after year Finland has had successful F1-drivers who have attracted people in front of the tv

After Kimi Räikkönen left F1 and moved over to WRC the interest in F1 went down substantially. Räikkönen's return to F1 is like a victory in lotto for MTV3, who owns the sport's tv-rights.

- After Finland's top years in F1 we faced poor years and the interest to F1 has gone down among the big audience. Now the expectation parameters and hopes for success are high again. It would be a tough thing in any sport if a sportsman this famous would make a comeback, Tatu Lehmuskallio, sport manager from MTV3, says.

- It's obvious that we expect the orders to grow above the curve that we are used to. Of course Kimi's comeback will have a positive influence, Lehmuskallio states.

- We have different kinds of arrangements with teams, unions and singular sportsmen. F1 is no exception in that matter. Let's see if we can come up with some special arrangement, and if it seems reasonable then we will go for it. In Kimi's case the main focus will still be on the racing itself.

Kimi's departure hurt

The TV-boss confesses that Räikkönen's departure from F1 hurt badly.

- It was a bit like if you would own the tv-rights to some European soccer game but then your own country wouldn't make it to the final tournament. It was hard because we always pay for the tv-rights according to the the expectation parameters.

- When Kimi left F1 we took a risk to see if the financial equation would work even if Kimi wouldn't drive. And it worked since the pay-tv -business has worked well despite of the lack of Finnish success.

URHEILUTIETO

Source: Iltalehti
Courtesy: Nicole

Finland's champion in 2012?

Today I interviewed Felipe Massa in Ferrari on the sacred Indian GP -paddock. Before I had time to ask anything Felipe said that he will start - and he asked me if Kimi Räikkönen will come back. The interview with replies comes to Saturday's paper so nothing more about it here.

But they are buzzing about Räikkönen's possible comeback or about how groundless it is to even hint about such a thing on the eve of Indian GP. F1 Racing -magazine already threw some fuel in the fire, although Anthony Peacock's interview was made weeks ago during Rally France.

On Thursday the reporters complemented information from each other on the paddock. Some are completely convinced that nothing will happen. Some again act as if they know that the contract has already been made. And the majority is just guessing over what might be going on.

I took the bull by it's horns and asked my fellow reporters to speculate that if Räikkönen will be in Williams next year and Heikki Kovalainen in Lotus or whatever the team's name will be in 2012, which one of them would be ahead?

It looks like Finland's championship would go to Räikkönen if these are the settings.

Here are the replies:

Gerhard Kuntschik, Salzburger Nachrichten (Austria):

– Williams will definitely be ahead of Lotus next year. Williams can't afford another catastrophical season and they will do everything they can in order to avoid that. Williams will compete fiercly in the mid-group and will be at least on the same level as Force India, Sauber and Toro Rosso.

– It's also clear that Lotus will improve. But for them the next season is a question of scoring their first WC-point whereas Williams will score points evenly, Kuntschik thinks.

Luis Fernando Ramos, Radio Band (Brazil):

– Williams won't collapse more from this. This car is simply a rock bottom. It hasn't been fast on any kinds of tracks - not on slow, not on semi-fast and not on fast ones. Mike Coughlan will most certainly make a better car and they will also get Renault's engine, which will give performance ability and reliability.

– Whether it's Kimi or Rubens driving in Williams I think that Lotus will be left behind. Lotus will lift their level too but not as much as Williams.

Michael Schmidt, Auto, Motor und Sport (Germany):

– Williams is ahead of Lotus. The new people are talented and it's certain that they won't hit another rock bottom like this one. For Williams the switch to Renault's engine will help more than KERS will help Lotus, who already has the same engine.

– Both cars are designed in Williams' windtunnels. Whereas Williams uses the new one, Lotus is in the older windtunnel. I think a more competitive car comes out of the new windtunnel, Schmidt estimates.

Jonathan Noble, Autosport (UK):

– Lotus will surely improve next season. Mark Smith and KERS bring their own substantial inputs. Also Heikki Kovalainen seems to have been in flames already with this car. It's possible that Lotus could even beat Williams.

– I wouldn't bet on it though. Williams is Williams and after a lousy season like this they must be really making an effort to lift their competitiveness. If Kimi Räikkönen drives in Williams then he will certainly get everything out of the car.

Pino Allievi, La Gazzetta dello Sport (Italy):

– First of all I would advice Kimi not to come back. World champions' comebacks to F1 haven't usually succeeded. But if we are talking about Williams and Lotus I would say that the one of them who have the finance better in place will be ahead in that battle. If Williams can get their budget together then they should be ahead.

Dan Knutson, Speed Sport News (USA):

– Kimi and Heikki against each other? If Kimi drives Williams and Heikki Lotus, then Kimi is ahead. This car has been so crappy for Williams that at least you can't go any lower. Both teams bring the best cars but Williams can improve at least as much as Lotus can.

– But there won't be any super leaping. If Räikkönen is at Williams then his position will be 12th whereas Kovalainen's with Lotus is 14th, Knutson estimates.

Erkki Mustakari, Maikkari (Finland):

– No matter who drives at Williams it will be ahead of Lotus-Caterham next year. If Kimi is the driver then he will whip the best out of the car the same way he did with the bad Ferrari in 2009.

– Williams have had their most weakest season ever. They have changed personnel and it's 100% sure that these new engineers are immensly motivated to give a strong performance of their know-how.

– Lotus will uplift their level and get to race in the midfield but if Kimi is at Williams, then he will lift the team's level the same way as Robert Kubica did in Renault and drive ahead of the compact mid-group Force India - Sauber - Toro Rosso, Mustakari thinks.

Heikki Kulta Turun Sanomat

Courtesy: Nicole

Return to the circus?

They know in F1-circles that Kimi Räikkönen has been knocking on Williams F1-team's door some time ago. If Kimi wasn't there himself, then at least his representatives have been in contact with the team.

Quite understandable.

See Kimi Räikkönen is a man who sets a goal for himself and starts walking towards it. Last year in Singapore many drivers hoped for Kimi to come back and they thought that the man might come back to the tracks one day.

When Kimi starts something he takes it to the end. He was motivated to drive in F1-teams for as long as he won the WDC. After that he didn't really produce any result so he ended his career.

Moreover Kimi wants to race in different genres. He loves to race with a water jet-ski in the summer, play icehockey with his pals, he likes to sing karaoke and tell jokes.

When Kimi won the WDC, over 30 pals gathered in the private night-club Bläk to wait for the man to return from Italy where Räikkönen was celebrated by Ferrari's personnel.

Kimi appeared about 8 p.m.. He had flown from Italy to Finland in a private plane. He had with him actor Jasper Pääkkönen among others. Before the party I was alarmed to call singer Matti Esko, who's song Rekkamies was Kimi's favourite in karaoke-nights. Kimi also loved Kari Tapio's Paalupaikka-song.

- I have just come from the sauna but if they want me to sing Rekkamies to the World Champion Räikkönen, then I will immediately put my clothes on and start coming from Järvenpää to Helsinki, Matti Esko said when I called him.

Matti Esko was soon in Bläk and he waited with the others for Kimi's arrival. When the champion arrived and Matti Esko started to sing Rekkamies, Kimi grabbed the other microphone and started to sing together with the artist.

Kimi's voice wasn't bad at all. It was clear that the world champion had been singing earlier too.

------------------- FORGOTTEN TEXT-------------------

During the years Kimi has turned into an elegant man. He even knows the noble art of giving kisses on the cheek and knows by now that one doesn't eat holding a cap on the head.

In the beginning of his career Kimi was partying in public, but during the recent years he has rather stayed with his trusted pals than taken a cab to the centrum of cities.

Kimi Räikkönen does not like dishonesty, injustice or bullshit-talkers. He has also been very sensitive to what has been written about him.

Räikkönen has often wondered why he can't live his life out of publicity's reach.

F1-drivers and F1 World Champions are under a magnifying glass wherever they are. Kimi is not an exception.

Rita Tainola

Source: IS (paper edition)
Courtesy: Nicole

Kimi raged over the team's blunder

Kimi Räikkönen's rally could have been ruined because of negligence

Räikkönen was serious when he went to the night-break.

- The spare tyre's rib was completely tangled. We wouldn't have got it on no matter what we would had done. Fortunately nothing happened and we didn't need the spare tyre, Kimi said and gave some strict feedback to Citroën's personnel.

- I can improve most and easiest in brakings. Now I braked many times too early, Kimi said.

Räikkönen hopes that he will get some advantage on Friday since they are driving completely new stages.

- They are new for everybody so it evens out the situation, Kimi said.

Räikkönen won't take any pressure over his success.

- I have won what can be won on the track. I don't suddenly have any obsession to win a rally. Of course I always want to get the best position possible, Kimi said.

PEKKA JALONEN

Source: Iltalehti
Courtersy: Nicole

Nogier expects Räikkönen to show more Finland pace

By Giles Wade

Citroën Racing Technologies boss Benoit Nogier expects Kimi Räikkönen to be closer to the leading pace on Rally Finland next week.

Finn Räikkönen is in his second season with the French team under Nogier’s stewardship and will tackle his home round of the world championship for the third time at the wheel of a Citroen DS3 WRC.

“Kimi loves his country and his rally,” said Nogier. “He really enjoyed his two-day test and he got the car to handle to his liking. He has a logical approach. He was his usual self, did not get excited and kept his unflappable calm. The road show will help him to immerse himself in the ambiance of the rally. We hope he’ll drive a consistent race and close the gap to the frontrunners.”

Before Rally Finland gets underway in Jyvaskyla on July 28, Raikkonen and Citroen team leader Sebastien Loeb will take part in the Red Bull Road Show event in the Finnish capital Helsinki tomorrow (Sunday).

Source: MaxRally

Video: Kimi Räikkönen playing Ice-hockey in Finland 2011

Kimi Raikkonen trains playing ice hockey in Espoo before the Rally of Finland 2011



Source: Anelise30

Räikkönen tells about NASCAR plans

Kimi Räikkönen returned to WRC in Greece, finishing seventh in the classic Acropolis rally. On May the Finn made a short foray to North America and NASCAR, where he raced at Charlotte in the Trucks and the prestigeous Nationwide series' GPs. Regarding NASCAR, Räikkönen's option are still open.

- No decision has been made, nor do I know when to make the decision, Räikkönen commented to Sport Content.

On July Räikkönen will be testing his Citroën WRC car in Finland and prior
to that, will take some time off.

Asked what he'll be doing for holidays, Räikkönen was as taciturn as ever.

- Nothing.

His co-driver Kai Lindström said Räikkönen enjoyed the Acropolis rally.

- Sunday was OK. There were a few demanding stages, but we weren't in a hurry since we just tried to secure our position. Power Stage was fun. Even on Saturday driving in the dark was OK, though the dust was a problem, commented Lindström.

- Fortunately we get to Jyväskylä -Rally Finland next. A short break and then
a little testing, he continued.

Source: RacingNewsFlash

Räikkönen commits to WRC

By Anthony Peacock

Despite a troubled start to the Acropolis Rally, which included a handling problem and a puncture, former Grand Prix World Champion Kimi Räikkönen is convinced that he is making solid progress in the sport – and his immediate future is committed to the World Rally Championship. As well as driving in the World Rally Championship, Raikkonen is trying out selected NASCAR outings this year.

But the Finn insists that the World Rally Championship remains his priority, and he is looking forward to the full programme that he is set to tackle between now and the end of the year. “I still enjoy rally a lot; this is what I am focussing on,” he said. “Of course it’s not so easy when you have difficult days but you have to expect this sometimes. If it was easy, it would not be the same challenge.” Räikkönen is currently 10th on the Acropolis Rally: less than 10 seconds behind Ford’s Jari-Matti Latvala, who encountered a front differential problem on the final stage of the day.

Thanks to the rotation rules, Acropolis is one of the many events that Räikkönen has not yet tackled. Next the 2007 F1 Champion will compete on his native Rally Finland, following the WRC’s summer break. “Finland should be good for us,” he said. “It will be nice for us to get back to a rally we know a bit.”

Source: MaxRally
Courtesy: luieluv

Special interview with Kimi Räikkönen

Kimi Räikkönen returned to the wheel of WRC car at Greece, when the rally started at Friday. Earlier, Kimi had time to give interview for RacingNewsFlash.com

Kimi admits that visit at Nascar-series refreshed because after long time the F1 world champion was able to fight against others on the track. Räikkönen didn't know yet how his career at Nascar will continue. Next race after rally Greece will be rally Finland at the end of July.

Visiting at Nascar-series is now behind. How did it feel to be back in to the rally car?

- Pretty normal. We already had some test at France. Nothing special. There didn't happen anything special on the test. I was only doing some driving and getting used to drive rally again. We did only a bit of set-up there but nothing special as I said. Normal test.

What are you expecting about the rally of this weekend, Greece?

- This is again a one new rally for me. We just try to drive the stages well and as fast as we can. It will not be as easy than in earlier rallies, because I don't know anything about the stages.

How are things after Greece, will you go back to Nascar?

- I am not sure yet. Maybe I will do something yet but I haven't made any decisions yet. Finnish rally will be the next event for me.

How did Nascar feel?

- It was very different. I was not expecting for anything special because I didn't know what kind of it will be. It was nice to race with people on track after couple years. It was funny and very different than rally. There was very easy-going and it was everything about a show. So, it was funny and very good experience.

Is Nascar something wich you would like to do more?

- Most amazing on it was that you can fight against other drivers. There are so many cars on the track. On WRC, you drive against the clock, so it was nice to drive and fight against others on track. It was cool and the system is very different compared to rally. Let's see.

Now there are two races behind Nascarm at Camping World Truck and Nationwide. Will you also try the highest stage, Sprint Car Cup?

- I don't know, let's see what will happen there. It's about many things. But it would be nice to try Sprint Car Cup too.

In Helsinki there will be rally show by Citroën. What do you think, there will be lots of people out of there for sure?

- There was a similar show at Portugal last year. For the crew specially it was fun. I don't know what kind of road there will be at Helsinki.But for sure it will be great. I heard about this only some time ago. I don't know yet how long will it be.

Source: RacingnNewsFlash.com
Courtesy: luieluv

Finland's gold was celebrated even in the F1 Champion Team

Topfysio Tommi Pärmäkoski celebrated Vettel's F1-championship in November. On Sunday evening he got something new to celebrate.

Together with his colleague Antti Kontsas, Pärmäkoski organized a joint Icehockey WC -studio for Finnish F1-trainers in Switzerland.

Pärmäkoski played icehockey himself in Mestis during 2002-03 as a goal keeper, "as a good sportsman but not as an especially talented hockey player".

– It was a great game from Finland's whole team and especially from Petri Vehanen (goalie). Deepest respects also to Sweden's goal keeper Viktor Fasth, who became a WC-star coming almost straight from their Mestis-level, Pärmäkoski thought.

Vettel, who has got a wooden Finnish sauna built in his home, tried out this weekend his renamed Red Bull Ring.

– Vettel called after Sweden made the opening goal but it got more quiet after that, Pärmäkoski revealed.

When Finland played against Germany Vettel was racing in Turkey. The competitive WDC made a bet with his fysio about who will win - he lost, which is very rare for the man these days.

Vettel leads the serie with 34 points to Lewis Hamilton after only 4 races.

– The car is good, the driver is good but there's at least 15 races left. The most important thing is to keep the feet on the ground and just take peacefully one race after another, Pärmäkoski says.

Turun Sanomat

HEIKKI KULTA

Courtesy: Nicole

Kimi Räikkönen has promised a lift on Ferrari to Miami Vice star

The Miami Vice famous actor Philip Michael Thomas has fans in Finland.

One is Jussi Salonoja and another is the former F1 driver Kimi Räikkönen.

Ilta-Sanomat journalist Rita Tainola sat recently in the back seat of a taxi with Räikkönen and the conversation touched the Miami Vice series.

- Kimi said he likes the series because of Tubbs and thought that it would be nice to meet the man.
I picked immediately up the phone from my pocket and called Philip, Tainola tells.

- We chatted for a while and I told him that a certain F1 World Champion admires him, and I tapped the receiver on Kimi’s hand. Kimi told Philip that, if he will come to Finland one day, a Ferrari, similar to the one used in Miami Vice, will be acquired/prepared for him.

Buy this weekend edition of Ilta-Sanomat and read what Tainola thinks about the real star of this TV-series: Don Johnson.

IS

Courtesy: luieluv

Vettel shares Räikkönen's happiness

Sebastian Vettel is radiating from happiness and he admitted openly in a tv-interview that he loves his job that is crowned by continuous victories. Vettel sent his wishes to Finland from behind the scenes through his trainer Tommi Pärmäkoski, wishing that Kimi also lives his dream just like he does.

– It was quite a big surprise to hear that Kimi is going to race in Nascar on top of rally but that way he gets to continuously experience strong emotions that other F1-drivers can only dream of, Vettel said.

Pärmäkoski has a different challenge

A year ago after two opening races, Pärmäkoski was Vettel's closest mental supporter when Red Bull's young German star had thrown away two victories because of technical problems.

Now Pärmäkoski's role after two victories is to prevent the WDC from feeling too good.

– Psychologically this is a completely different challenge. You have to calm the man down to make sure he won't go ahead of things, Pärmäkoski told on the phone from Sepang's victory-party.

– On Tuesday morning I will challenge Seb in a squash game and beat him so badly that he knows again that he can also lose, Pärmäkoski laughed.

Not that there would be any big risk for an attitude-problem though. Vettel is that kind of type who doesn't easily start floating - just as he won't easily throw the hatchet in the well, which last season already proved.

– There's been more than enough of those who pat him on the back during the journey. Sebastian deals really well with those things. On the paddock he always does his work as precisely as before. Seb pulled a good race again although everything in the car didn't work, Pärmäkoski said.

Yet Red Bull isn't the only rooster on the roof.

– McLaren is close and keeps the team on their guard, Pärmäkoski reminds.

Turun Sanomat

HEIKKI KULTA

Courtesy: Nicole

Kimi Räikkönen, what are you thinking?

Former Formula 1 champion Kimi Räikkönen told a newspaper in his native Finland that he would try his hand at NASCAR racing—with Foster Gillett as a partner in his ICE-1 Racing team

If this is true, and not an elaborate hoax, Raikkonen would be wise to be wary.

Gillett ran the day-to-day operations at Richard Petty Motorsports last year and ran the organization into the ground. Foster and his father, George Gillett, left hundreds of creditors and former employees holding the bag at RPM.

This is the same Foster Gillett who introduced himself to driver Carl Edwards by trying to "borrow" Edwards' four-wheeler in the driver/owner coach lot at Homestead—without permission.

"I hear my little Polaris Razor start up—I hear the exhaust start up," Edwards told Sporting News the day after the incident in November 2009. "'Who's in my four-wheeler?' So I run out the door, and here's these two guys—and I don't know who they are—and they're getting ready to take off. I say, 'Hey, hey, who are you?'

One of the guys was Foster Gillett, but that was a mere peccadillo compared with some of the larger consternation the Gillett family has left in its wake.

The Gilletts are hated in England for the bungling of their ownership/management of the Liverpool soccer side in the English Premier League. In 2008, George Gillett spoke of death threats against his family from the club's fans, threats Gillett said arose primarily from comments made by his estranged partner in the team, Texas billionaire Tom Hicks.

George Gillett didn't win many friends in Montreal when, according to Forbes, he leveraged the Bell Centre for $240 million after acquiring 80.1-percent interest in the Canadiens, as well as the building. A reported $72 million of that money found its way to Gillett's pocket as a dividend.

Ultimately, Gillett sold the Canadiens to the Molson family for a tidy profit. He wasn't as fortunate in Liverpool, where he lost the team to John Henry's New England Sports Ventures in a forced sale through the Royal Bank of Scotland, which had loaned more than $350 million to Gillett and Hicks.

Some reports describe Foster Gillett as an investor in the deal with Raikkonen. With what money? Ray Evernham recently sued two companies owned by George Gillett for $19.2 million Evernham alleges is owed from the original sale of majority interest in Evernham Motorsports to Gillett.

Gillett walked away from a reported $90 million loan from Wachovia/Wells Fargo that was used to purchase Evernham Motorsports, which became RPM after a merger with Petty Holdings. Investors Andrew Murstein and Douglas Bergeron bought the loan for pennies on the dollar ($11 million, according to a Forbes report), and after Richard

Petty made a substantial investment of his own, the company returned to solvency. NASCAR will welcome Raikkonen with open arms. The Finnish driver is a bona fide superstar, and if he follows the plan of starting in the Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series before making a decision about competing in Sprint Cup, he's approaching the transition in a prudent way.

One has to wonder, though, if there's any NASCAR news in Finland. Due diligence should have squelched involvement by Foster Gillett before it started.

Richard Petty barely escaped having his name and reputation permanently sullied through association with the Gillett family.

Raikkonen doesn't need to take the same risk—and he doesn't need to leave any four-wheelers sitting around after dark.

Source: SportingNews
Courtesy: sleenster

Kimi concerned over young drivers

The idea of the new team was born in August after Finlands WRC-rally in Tommi Mäkinen's sauna in Puuppola.

- We chatted with Kimi in the sauna. Kimi knew Ludde (Söderberg) from before and was thinking about how he could help young motocross-drivers like him to go forward in their career, Kari Tiainen told.

This is how the first step was taken and Ice1Racing was put up with a fast schedule. The driving force was Räikkönen's genuine interest in running a motocross-team.

- Kimi has always been interested in motocross. He has been dreaming for a long time about starting a Finnish motocross-team, Riku Kuvaja tells.

Räikkönen will not participate in the everyday activity but according to Tiainen he has enough interest in the team's matters.

The team's goal is to open up a road to the top on long-term for Finnish drivers.

- We are satisfied if we are in the top 10 in some race. We have long-term goals, Tiainen says.

- We could think about drivers from other Scandinavian countries in the future.

Tiainen won't exclude the possibility of Räikkönen himself performing in his team's colors.

- I'm sure it would be possible, Kimi has taken part in the tests with us. If Kimi would drive, he probably should do it in some class in Finland. There's no point in going to the WC-serie although it would be a funny ad-gimmick.

Ice1Racing will race the full serie. The first race takes place in Bulgaria on April 10th.

Source: Ilta- Sanomat
Courtesy: Nicole

New trainer for Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton’s Twitter feed (@IamLewis4real) has kept his 90,000 followers up to date on the most strenuous period of winter training in his entire career – and that’s largely thanks to the efforts of his new full-time trainer, Finland’s Antti Vierula.

Lewis spent the Christmas period in the mountains of Colorado, where he’s been snow-hiking, cross-country skiing and working out in the gym – all between altitudes of 2600 and 3700m to maximise cardiovascular efficiency.

It’s been a punishing schedule – but one that will set him up perfectly for the 2011 season. Antti will be working closely with Lewis both in the gym and at the racetrack to co-ordinate his fitness programme, dietary requirements, and to ensure that he’s operating at peak physical form throughout the grueling 20-race season.

McLaren Racing managing director Jonathan Neale said: “At Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, we’re committed to building a team with incredible strength in depth in every department.

“By appointing Antti Vierula to oversee Lewis’s trackside fitness regime and Clayton Green to a senior position within our Human High Performance programme at the McLaren Technology Centre, we’re convinced that we’ve assembled the most experienced, capable and committed team to oversee Lewis’s training requirements."

Source: Nextgen

Photos: Kimi Räikkönen's Independence Day: Finland enduro race

Kimi Raikkonen explained enduro debut in style

Source: iltalehti
Courtesy: Verena and Julia