Räikkönen, Oliveira confirmed for Rally Australia

Following speculation to the contrary, Kimi Räikkönen has now confirmed his presence on next month's Rally Australia - where he will be joined by Daniel Oliveira and the Brazil World Rally Team

Former F1 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen and the Brazil World Rally Team have both confirmed their presence on next month's Rally Australia – an event that has been billed as the 'Ultimate Dust-Up Down Under'.

There had been speculation that Raikkonen and his ICE 1 Racing Team-prepared Citroën DS3 WRC would not make the trip out to New South Wales' Coffs Coast to participate in the tenth leg of the 2011 World Rally Championship from 8-11 September in its new venue. The Finn has not competed in the country since the 2009 Australian Grand Prix around Melbourne's Albert Park, a race he failed to finish after suffering differential failure.

Meanwhile, the privateer Brazil World Rally Team will fly the flag for the iconic MINI brand on the event, with Daniel Oliveira behind the wheel of the MINI John Cooper Works WRC as part of his three-year driver development programme alongside Portuguese navigator Carlos Magalhaes.

The official Prodrive-run MINI effort is limiting itself to European rounds for its debut WRC campaign, but the David Richards-led operation will nonetheless provide operational and technical support for the Brazil World Rally Team. Rally Australia general manager Michael Masi contends that it will be an event not to be missed.

“The WRC is a dazzling spectacle played out in 13 locations around the globe,” he enthused. “This will be the 21st Rally Australia, but the first time people will be able to see it in this beautiful part of New South Wales. It will be an opportunity for spectators of all kinds to witness the skills of these spectacular drivers and experience all the exciting atmosphere of a world championship contest.

“They're the gravel masters, riding their turbocharged machines from rest to 100km/h in three seconds, racing through the forests at more than 160km/h, jumping and sliding at impossible speeds. Spectators won't have seen anything like it – it's a stunning, unforgettable experience.”

Source: Crash.net

Räikkönen tipped to shine on home rally

Kimi Räikkönen has been tipped for a strong result on Neste Oil Rally Finland, which gets underway with the first of 22 special stages on Thursday evening (July 28)

The ex-Formula One world champion is tackling the event for a third time this season and Benoit Nogier, whose Citroën Racing Technologies operation runs Räikkönen’s ICE 1 Racing Citroën DS3 WRC, has high hopes for the Finn.

“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. We hope he’ll drive a consistent race and close the gap to the frontrunners.”

Nogier explained that Räikkönen and fellow Citroën Racing Technologies driver Petter Solberg tested on roads similar to those found on this week’s World Rally Championship counter.

“There was a combination of humps and wide, quick sections,” said Nogier. “Our drivers were a bit worried about how the car would handle at very high speed but this test session has reassured them about the balance of the DS3 R3.”

Räikkönen made his WRC debut on Rally Finland in 2009, impressing in an Abarth Grande Punto Super 2000 before ultimately crashing out. Last year, armed with a Citroën C4 WRC, the 31-year-old was eighth overall at the completion of the opening day but slipped back to 25th at the finish after spending 10 minutes off the road.

Co-driven by fellow Finn Kaj Lindström, Räikkönen has made four appearances in the WRC this season and has scored drivers’ championship points on each occasion. He holds eighth position in the standings, while ICE 1 Racing is fifth in the manufacturers’ table.

Source: WRC
Courtesy: momo

Räikkönen promises to increase his speed next

Kimi Räikkönen has now drove this season's two rallies without making any bigger mistakes. In Sweden he was 8th and in Portugal he was 7th.

We didn't experience an afternoon flash like in Sweden - several stages in a row in top 5 - in Räikkönen's first rally on gravel.

– I'm kind of like a score-automaton, Räikkönen joked.

In Portugal Petter Solberg went past him on the powerstage with a bang.

– We knew he was coming since he was so close. We could have come totally super but we didn't take the risk, instead we came to the finish, Räikkönen said although he is always bugged when even one place is lost.

ICE1 Racing -team's Citroen came to Portugal with wrong setups. On Saturday the setups were right but they got the car to it's best only on Sunday. After the rally ended it would have been in the best stitch to start the race.

– At least we learned about the car when the setups weren't nearly what they should have been. I guess it's easier now to go to the next rally.

No surprising situations

Then what about the progress - do you feel that you took a step forward like in Sweden the second time?

– It didn't go exactly like that. This race was only driving. It made no sense to push too hard. Sure it went better when you really tried. We took it pretty peacefully almost all the time.

– When I have been driving more and got more experience those situations won't come up anymore. Next I have to try and drive faster now that the notes are kind of safe and listening to them has also improved. That way you won't run into those surprises, Räikkönen said.

If Rally Jordan is cancelled on Monday, then Räikkönen will participate in Rally Sardinia which wasn't in his preliminary schedule.

Has Räikkönen caught up with the top drivers?

– Still an ice-figure skater won't start making goals in hockey at once because the genres are so different. In rally you can count with both hands fingers the requirements you have to master 100% in order to get in the same speed as the top. Kimi has learned a lot of each of those but not enough. The fact that he has such a good speed with this short training is a sign of talent, Kaj Lindström said.

Turun Sanomat, Faro

HEIKKI KULTA

Courtesy: Nicole

Icemen and frostmen

Kimi Räikkönen is a worldwide known iceman in motorsport who even drives as a master in his own ICE1 Racing -team. He started the season in the arctic Sweden in a cool way and got immediately a number 9 from his co-driver Kaj Lindström for his performance.

But the real iceman was however Jari-Matti Latvala who literally froze in Ford's cockpit a couple of times.

Latvala who had over-aggressively setup and whipped his new car was jumping in the snowbanks all the time. Ford almost ran out of front bumpers because they couldn't take this kind of handling. All and all Latvala left behind him 4 bumpers on the roads .

The Ford came again on Sunday morning so air-conditioned that both driver and co-driver Miikka Anttila were shaking from shivering with their hands and feet frozen. The heat batteries melted the frozen men and Latvala found a rhythm for the afternoon so he could get in 3rd like last year.

Malcolm Wilson was shaking his head because Latvala's weekend was one rollercoaster - at times completely spectacular driving, at times nothing but a nightmare. Yet Wilson strongly believes that someday pieces will fall in place and that's when Latvala will be celebrated as a champion.

If Räikkönen and Latvala were the icemen of the weekend then the actual frostman was Mikko Hirvonen who frosted his nerves. Hirvonen's second win in a row from Sweden restored both his own as his team's confidence.

Wilson especially praised his more experienced driver's performance that was almost perfect and came under the hardest pressure on Sunday morning.

The first victory with the new WRC-car is an important milestone for Ford and it's crowned by a triple victory, but the truth is that it's impossible to say at this point if Ford has been able to get ahead of Citroen in the long run also.

Turun Sanomat, Hagfors

HEIKKI KULTA

Courtesy: Nicole

What kind of a team boss is Räikkönen like?

- Ice One Racing was born to motorsport. It is divided into rally and motocross. If something else comes up later it can also be Ice One Racing, the chairman of the company, Riku Kuvaja, told MTV3.

Kuvaja has lately been working with getting sponsors for the motocross-team.

- The markets are quite interesting at the moment. Of course there could be more but we have a pretty good situation.

- He has got a lot for himself from motorsport during the years. Now he wants to help youngsters, this time in motocross, Kuvaja tells.

What kind of a team boss is Räikkönen like?

- I'm sure we will see during this year what kind of a team boss he is. I would guess that he would be very calm and professional. He has been in a tough school during the past years, Kuvaja says.

Source: MTV3
Courtesy: Nicole

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

Kimi Räikkönen sets up his own motocross team

On Thursday rally driver Kimi Räikkönen will officially present his own motocross team, which will take part in next season's championship

The Ice1Racing team has two Finnish riders, Toni Eriksson, 24, and Ludde Söderberg, 20. The pair from Vantaa will compete in the MX1 class, which is the premier class in the World Championship.

The team will use Kawasaki motorcycles and the team leader is seven times enduro champion Kari Tiainen. Räikkönen has won the world championship title in F1.

Räikkönen as a child has already dreamt of motocross even though he became a successful track and rally driver.

The purpose of the team is to offer young people and gifted Finnish riders a path to the top of the series. There are also junior riders in the team.

Räikkönen will participate in a World Championship series next season but in a completely different discipline. He participates in the World Rally Championship series with a Citroën DS3 car.

Source: hs.fi
Courtesy: sleenster

Kimi Räikkönen returns to the public after a period of mourning

Kimi, who lost his father tragically before Christmas has not appeared in public since the beginning of the year

The mourning period is now officially behind us because Kimi will return to the public on Thursday, February 3 at the Helsinki Fair Centre.

At that time the MP 11 motorcycle trade show will begin at the exhibition centre, where Kimi and enduro legend Kari Tiainen's common motocross team ICE1 RACING is represented. A press conference outlining the team's goals this year is arranged in connection with the exhibition.

During the coming year Kimi's time will be taken up by the motocross team and also by the World Rally Championship series which starts on Thursday, February 10 at Rally Sweden.

– Kimi returns from a break now and the work will begin on Thursday next week, Kimi's PR manager, Riku Kuvaja tells to MTV3.

Source: MTV3
Courtesy: sleenster

Räikkönen tipped for top six in Sweden

Kimi Räikkönen's team manager has tipped the ex-Formula One world champion to challenge for a top six finish on Rally Sweden next week

Benoit Nogier, who will oversee the ICE 1 Racing operation on 10 rounds of the World Rally Championship, believes the Finn can shine on the snow-coated Swedish stages.

“I expect him to be in the battle - not for the podium but for the points,” said Nogier. “I think a top six finish for Kimi in Sweden is something we can expect and I hope he will be at this level on Friday, to expect this result on Sunday.”

Raikkonen, who got his first taste of Citroen’s new DS3 WRC during a test in Sweden last weekend, finished 10th in the final WRC drivers’ standings in 2010. Nogier said he was delighted when Raikkonen confirmed he would be returning for a second season in the WRC.

“It was very important [he has come back] because with Kimi we had the worst part with him last year, it was his first season in rally,” said Nogier. “We had two or three bad moments in the season, but it was very important to carry on with him now and to begin to build something very interesting and to start to not crash the car, but finish the rally and start to get good results. He can do this.”

Nogier said he expects Raikkonen to approach the season on a rally-by-rally basis, adding: “The goal will change rally after rally. Of course, we will try to get the best results we can from the beginning of the season. For the new events, for example Australia, it is important to just reach the finish line of the rally.”

He continued: “Kimi enjoyed driving the C4 so I cannot imagine that he will be disappointed with the DS3. I am very optimistic that Kimi will like it.”

Source: WRC
Courtesy: Julia

ICE 1 Racing

ICE 1 Racing Kimi Räikkönen

Fast Facts

Based: Versailles, France

Established: 2011

Team Principal: Benoit Nogier

Current Car: Citroën DS3 WRC

Driver: Kimi Räikkönen

Website: http://www.kimiraikkonen.com/

Why Support Them?

- They’ve got a cool name

- Benoit Nogier is a respected figure in team management

- Driver Räikkönen remains a motorsporting hero

Career Summary

Citroën Racing has restructured its WRC Team operations for 2011, taking the decision to disband the Citroën Junior Team. Despite its success last term, the squad’s objective of grooming Sebastien Ogier for Citroen’s main attack - and aiding Kimi Räikkönen’s transition to rallying from Formula One - has been carried out and it’s now surplus to requirements.

But while the Citroen Junior Team is no more, there will be an air of familiarity when ICE 1 Racing breaks cover this season with Räikkönen and respected team manger Benoit Nogier much in evidence.

Räikkönen will drive the team’s lone Citroën DS3 WRC on every round of the world championship this year with the exception of the rallies in Mexico, Italy (Sardinia) and Australia, while Nogier will again be on hand to oversee the outfit.

ICE 1, which is a play on Räikkönen’s Iceman moniker, will be housed at Citroën Racing’s headquarters in Versailles on the outskirts of Paris. It will be eligible to score WRC manufacturers’ points as a WRC Team entrant.

As well as Nogier, ICE 1 will rely on the services of several Citroen engineers and technicians.

The squad has attracted financial backing from Räikkönen’s native Finland.

Source: WRC

Kimi: fewer applications, more tests

Ex-F1 world champion Kimi Räikkönen will remain faithful to the World Rally Championship. But the Finn will change his tactics and plans to place more emphasis on testing

With his own team "ICE 1 racing" Kimi Räikkönen returns to the World Rally Championship in 2011. For a long time the rumour mill was buzzing that the Finn would withdraw completely, "but that was totally wrong," said his manager, Steve Robertson.

Räikkönen will take part in ten out of 13 of the World Rally Championship races with a Citroën WRC DS3. The expensive overseas rallies are omitted for budget reasons. Kimi will make good use of the resulting free time. Additional tests are planned to gather further experience.

For 2012, the signs are good that Räikkönen will remain in the WRC. After a two year break, he believes there little chance that he will return to Formula 1. “It’s not impossible, but it certainly makes it harder to go back, the longer you leave it,” said Kimi. “If I missed Formula One I would have gone back, but in fact I haven’t missed it at all.”

Source: Rallye-Magazin
Courtesy: sleenster

Räikkönen to contest majority of 2011 WRC

Former Grand Prix World Champion Kimi Räikkönen “will definitely be racing” this year on the World Rally Championship according to his management who have scotched rumours of the Finn’s retirement from the sport

The Finn has yet to formally announce a programme for 2011 but his management team say that they are confident he will be out on the majority of the rallies this year, at the wheel of a Citroën DS3 WRC.

Räikkönen has lodged an entry on this year’s World Championship under the ICE 1 Racing banner, and he is likely to compete on at least 10 of this year’s 13 rounds, with funding from private sponsors.

His manager Steve Robertson commented: “Kimi will definitely be out racing this year. The stories that say he won’t be doing anything are very much wide of the mark. But with his limited experience, it may be better for him to do some additional testing while the others are competing.”

In order to contain costs, Räikkönen is likely to give the long-haul events that are not likely to form part of the World Rally Championship in future a miss this year. While the Finn is not ruling out a return to Formula One in 2012 he admitted that it would be much harder to return to Grand Prix racing after taking two years off.

“It’s not impossible, but it certainly makes it harder to go back, the longer you leave it,” said Räikkönen. “If I missed Formula One I would have gone back, but in fact I haven’t missed it at all.”

Rally Sweden, which opens this World Rally Championship from 11-13 February, will mark the first time that Räikkönen takes part on an event in a factory World Rally Car for the second time.

Source: WRC
Courtesy: momo

Räikkönen became a Citroën customer

Kimi Räikkönen will also operate as a team manager next season in the World Rally Championship series. The mysterious Ice 1 Racing team's funding comes from Räikkönen's own sponsors

Last season Räikkönen competed with the support of Red Bull in the Citroën Junior Team. According to a French TV website the nature of the cooperation changes although Citroën will be responsible for the maintenance of the car in the future.

- We did offer a programme of ten rallies to him as a private driver as well as to our other customers. There will be no junior stable for the 2011 season, Citroën has signalled.

Citroën's role to the 2003 world champion Petter Solberg is similar to that of Räikkönen. The Norwegian driver has been driving in his own team's colors for the last two seasons.

Solberg is still looking for financing for his team still but is probably able to participate in the opening round of the World Rally Championship in Sweden, despite the registration delays.

Kimi's rally project close to more than half a million euros

Kimi Räikkönen has placed more than half a million euros in his rally racing team with background groups in a new company, ICE 1, Switzerland's company registry has shown.

ICE1Racing Ltd is a company registered on 21 December. The headquarters of the company is located in the town of Baar where Räikkönen lives.

The company's share capital is 650 000 Swiss francs (about 510 000 euros). The board of directors is chaired by Räikkönen's charge d'affaires, Riku Kuvaja. A Swiss businessman, Armin Vogt, also sits on the management board.

The company's operations involve things such as motocross competitions, racing, team rotation, sponsor acquisition and promotional activities.

Räikkönen is competing in the beginning of the season of the World Rally Championship series with a car acquired from Citroën. ICE 1 Racing is also enrolled in the World Rally Championship series for the teams.

Source: MTV3
Courtesy: sleenster