Räikkönen: there is still more to learn

Kimi Räikkönen says he still has plenty to learn despite scoring points on Rally Sweden earlier this month

Räikkönen, the 2007 Formula One world champion, finished eighth on the world championship season-opener in his ICE 1 Racing Citroën DS3 WRC alongside co-driver Kaj Lindström.

The Finn has elected to skip next week’s Rally Guanajuato Mexico but will return to the WRC on Vodafone Rally de Portugal following a test on gravel, where he says the learning process will continue.

“Before [Sweden] we had only one day for testing so obviously there is much to learn,” the 31-year-old told his official website. “While the car felt good, still the race is the race and when you get very challenging and changeable weather it is difficult.

“Every time after the rally you feel you could have gone faster. But [the] most important feeling was this time [was] I have learned more and improved from last year. Sweden was a good start for the season. The next rally for us is Portugal. Before that we have a test. Now it’s time to start working to go well on gravel too.”

As well as adjusting to Citroen’s DS3, Räikkönen said he still had to make improvements to his pace notes.

“We still have to focus more on the pace notes,” said Räikkönen, who finished 10th in last season’s final WRC standings. “There were not that many places we had it wrong but there were some, we had to change before the second pass. If you get it wrong, it’s always very tricky to keep the car on the road. It’s challenging to work with pace notes that’s for sure.

“But it was great fun to get back racing again. We didn’t have any major problems and we seemed to get closer to the frontrunners. Actually it was pretty much an easy-going rally for us in very tricky circumstances.”

Source: WRC
Courtesy: momo

Kimi's Column: Closer to the front runners

Kimi's Swedish Rally review 2011

It was great fun to get back racing, again and it was nice to get grips with the new car.

The weekend was quite OK. We didn¹t have any major problems, actually it was pretty much an easy-going rally for us in very tricky circumstances.

We seem to get closer to the front runners. Still they go very quick, but comparing the stage times we are not that much behind anymore. Obviously, it¹s still a learning curve for me and we have still a lot of things to do.

We finished the rally and the result is ok. We got some good points for me and Kaj and we got some good points to our ICE1 RACING team, too. The team did good job. We are still learning from the car, but it¹s nice to drive. That's the main thing for now.

Before the first rally we had only one day for testing. While the car felt good, still the race is the race and when the you got very challenging and changeable weather, you have use some time to train in the first place.

I can tell you, it was quite difficult. We spun and then we had a puncture, which cost us some time. But after that everything went well. I felt relaxed, the driving itself felt easy and we got some good stage times without pushing too much.

It's nice feeling while you don't have to wipe off the sweat from your forehead and sigh huh-huh, we managed to get the special stage through. I'm quite satisfied how we went the whole rally. It felt very normal driving all the time.

Obviously, there is much to learn. Still I have to focus more on the pace notes. There were not that many places we had it wrong, but there were some, we had to change before going there for the second time. If you get it wrong, it's always a very tricky task to keep the car on the road. It's challenging to work with pace notes. That¹s for sure.

Every time, after the rally, you feel you could have gone faster. But most importantly, I have learned more and improved from last year. Let's wait and see, how we go in the next few rallies.

Sweden was a good start for the season. The next rally for us is Portugal. Before that we have a test. Now it's time to start working to go well on gravel, too.

Source: KIMIRAIKKONEN.COM

Kimi Swedish Rally review in Finnish

It felt cool to get to drive again after a long time and it was great to get a feeling to the new car. It was an okay weekend. We didn't face any bigger griefs at any moment.

It looks like we are closer to the top. It's good since it means we have gone forward again. We do however know that we still have a lot to do.

We got to test the new car only for a day. Okay, the car felt good but when you have a race with difficult conditions right from the beginning, the start was only training for us. It was quite tricky when we spun and got a puncture just like that when driving in the track.

After that it started to go well. The driving was easy and the times came easily especially during the second round in the afternoon when I found a good laidbackness.

Of course we are still in the stage of learning. I have to pay even more attention to the notes. There weren't many corners that went wrong but there was a place that needed to be changed. If a situation like that comes up then it has always been tough to keep the car on the road. I just have to look more carefully at the notes in the future.

In Sweden our spinnings limited to that one spot on Friday. After that I didn't have to wipe sweat after the stage thinking "whew that we managed to finish it". I'm fairly satisfied when we got to drive a completely normal drive to the finish.

After the race you are always left with a feeling that it could have gone better. But it's cool when you have already learned something and improved from the earlier times.

Let's just now see how the continuance goes.

The result is okay. I got points home and good points for our team. The gang did a good job and the car felt nice to drive all the time. It's quick and a bit smaller than last year's car. It kind of suits me better.

It's good to start the new season from here. Next rally will then be in Portugal and before that we will go testing to see how the car behaves with gravel setups.

Source: KIMIRAIKKONEN.COM
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

Iltasanomat (paper edition): Great race, Kimi

by Janne Aittoniemi

Kimi Räikkönen proved that he has clearly improved as a rally driver.

According to many people Kimi drove his best rally so far in Sweden.

- Oh well, I'm satisfied although I could have gone faster. The beginning was a bit difficult but the driving got better towards the end, Räikkönen said after the race had ended.

Räikkönen was 8th in Sweden and was rewarded with 4 WC-points. Of course he has got better positions in his rallying career. Last season he was 5th in Turkey and 7th in Germany.

However in Sweden there were more talented drivers - and what was most important, Räikkönen closed the gap to the lead and he didn't make any big mistakes.

Räikkönen lost the race to the winner Mikko Hirvonen by 7 minutes but without any problems the difference would have been about 5 and a half minutes. Kimi lost all and all 1,5 minutes without his own fault when he had a tyre puncture and one spin.

- We spun once but otherwise we got through without making bigger mistakes. The puncture doesnt' bug me and neither does anything else either. These things happen, Räikkönen thought.

The new WRC-car suits Räikkönen better than last season's Citroen.

- It's more nice to drive this one. This is smaller and quicker, Kimi said.

Räikkönen got into an especially good speed on Saturday when they drove the morning-stages for the second time. He was on four stages in top 6 in a row and shocked with even driving the 4th fastest time once.

Räikkönen proved us once again that he is more comfortable on high-speed roads instead of on tangling stages. He drove clearly more confident in Sweden than he did a year ago.

- It's cool to see that I have managed to learn at least a little during the year, Räikkönen said.

Courtesy: Nicole

Kimi had a valuable guest at service break

FIA's president Jean Todt came to talk to Kimi Räikkönen, when the Finn arrived to Sunday's service break

Todt didn't offer any special advice to Räikkönen.

- No, he only came to say hi, Kimi said.

According to Räikkönen, the Sunday-morning's run went "pretty okay".

- Maybe not as well as yesterday, but I guess it's possible to improve for the afternoon.

For Räikkönen the afternoon is often better, because then the stages have already been driven once. It makes it considerably easier for an inexperienced driver.

Räikkönen doesn't see anything to complain about in his car.

- It's more about the driving. When I get the driving to hit well, the times improve.

There are extra WRC-points available on the last special stage of the race, but Räikkönen doesn't plan on a big attack.

- Well I don't know. In the morning it was at least difficult there, when the snow whirled a lot. Visibility was bad on that stage.

Source: Iltalehti
Courtesy: Leijona

The excellent pace of Räikkönen in seventh has attracted attention

Citroën privateer Kimi Raikkonen rose magnificently to seventh place from 11th place on Saturday in Rally Sweden. He was certainly helped by the misfortune of others, but the pace of Räikkönen was there in certain sections

Räikkönen gained positions immediately on the first stage of the morning when Henning Solberg (drove off the road) and Eyvind Brynildsen (engine trouble) retired. In addition, during the day P-G Andersson suffered from power steering problems.

Even though the bad luck of others helped Räikkönen rise in the standings, his speed should not be belittled. Räikkönen was among the eight fastest drivers all day and in afternoon when the roads had been cleared, his speed only increased.

On stages 13 and 14 Räikkönen posted the fifth quickest times. Mikko Hirvonen and Mads Östberg, among others, were left behind him.

On special stage 15 Räikkönen really got it right and posted the fourth fastest time which was only over 10 seconds slower than the fastest time set by Sebastien Loeb.

- The day has been pretty good. Some sections have been quite difficult but it turned out well. The car has felt good and it is great that we have brushed up on a lot today, Räikkönen told the WRC World Rally Radio.

Of course, Räikkönen benefited from a later starting position but many other drivers did as well. Among others, Matthew Wilson driving in Sweden for the fifth time and Patrik Sandell who drives in his home rally were constantly behind Räikkönen.

Last year in Sweden Räikkönen drove deep into the snow bank from 11th place and eventually finished in 29th place.

Source: YLE.fi
Courtesy: sleenster

Video: Kimi Räikkönen Interview after Day 2 at Rally Sweden 2011

Source: Citroënwrt

Räikkönen relaxed into his best rally rhythm

Sweden is Kimi Räikkönen's 20th rally. On Saturday he had his best day so far. Räikkönen found especially in the afternoon a driving rhythm which grew his selfconfidence bigger and the promising SS-times came easily.

In stages Räikkönen was first 6th, then twice 5th and at last 4th fastest. What was surprising was that Räikkönen got so close to Petter Solberg who was driving the same car.

In Lesjofors stage Räikkönen was only 0,2 seconds behind him, in Sågen he was already 2,4 seconds faster than him and then in Fredriksberg he was 0,6 seconds behind him.

How surprised are you over your times?

– It went okay. The driving is just better. It was trickier in the morning but I found the right rhythm in the afternoon.

How close to the limit did you get already?

– I don't know but I do know that these times came easily. It was completely normal driving. It's good that it was found now this afternoon. Now all I have to do is keep the same rhythm on Sunday too.

Räikkönen's best position is 5th in Turkey. However this day was much better since opponents didn't fall off the game like it happened in Turkey.

Do you feel that you have made progress?

– When you train all year you have to learn something. Hopefully the driving will get better from here on. I found the right way to drive and the times came immediately much easier, Räikkönen smiled.

Kaj Lindström warned not to get too excited over the good times.

– This was a clean driving day. I think Kimi drove superbly this afternoon. I have always said that when you drive your own drive and don't make mistakes it will relax the driving, give confidence and the clock also likes it.

– Kimi drove neatly with a good rhythm. Now all he has to do is keep the same rhythm in the same style, Kaj said.

After a difficult Friday Räikkönen climbed up from 11th position to 7th on Saturday right after Sebastien Loeb.

Turun Sanomat, Hagfors

HEIKKI KULTA

Courtesy: Nicole

Nogier impressed by Räikkönen improvement

Kimi Räikkönen's performance on day two of Rally Sweden compared favourably to Sebastien Loeb, according to Benoit Nogier, the man responsible for managing Räikkönen's ICE 1 Racing team

Räikkönen is seventh, one place behind Sebastien Loeb, in the overall standings after 15 stages. Nogier revealed that he even sent Loeb’s split times to the ex-Formula One world champion on Saturday afternoon so the Finn could compare his performance with the seven-time WRC title winner.

“We are very happy because it is the first time I sent him the split times to the car compared to Sebastien Loeb so it is good news,” Nogier said. “It was very interesting, especially this afternoon because he improved himself and was five-tenths of a second per kilometre [slower than] Loeb, which we are pleased with.”

When asked to explain Räikkönen’s increased pace, Nogier said: “It’s the second time for Kimi here in Sweden and we have already seen yesterday it was much easier for a second time. I think it’s also easier for him in the Citroen DS3 WRC.”

Nogier continued: “We plan for him to be in the points tomorrow and a top six would be great. It is our goal and we are not so far away now. We have a chance tomorrow.”

Source: WRC
Courtesy: sleenster

Räikkönen in better rhythm

The cold and clear weather helped Kimi Räikkönen and Kaj Lindström to a better speed on Saturday morning in Rally Sweden. Kimi was 8th on all four stages. He did best in Sågen where Kimi was 22,2 seconds from the top time when he had the difference of 30,4 seconds in the stage before that.

Räikkönen is now holding on to two points being 9th.

– The weather is now normal compared to Friday's snowstorm and it was pretty good driving, Kaj evaluated.

– We are on the ride with only one spare tyre so the balance of the car is a bit different. We already got it pretty good.

How big is the difference to last year when Kimi debuted on these roads?

– Because Kimi has drove here before, of course he remembers the places. First he didn't remember the last stage but once we took off he remembered it immeadiately.

The change of weather has of course changed the surface of the road too.

– It's not a that big change. The surface doesn't eat the tyres as much or wear them out, Lindström said.

Räikkönen has to shake himself awake because the rally begins so early.

– It always goes late in the evening here so we don't have much time to sleep. But it went okay. There isn't as much snow as it was on Friday. It's much more cooler to drive. The roads are great, Räikkönen said.

Turun Sanomat, Hagfors

HEIKKI KULTA

Courtesy: Nicole

Räikkönen happy with progress so far

Kimi Räikkönen says he is pleased with the progress he is making aboard his Citroën DS3 WRC - despite driving the car in untested conditions yesterday

The Finn drove a World Rally Car on a WRC event for the first time in Sweden last season and the ex-Formula One world champion admits he has come a long way in the last 12 months.

“My aim is the same as last year, we are driving in the same way and we’re trying to achieve the same thing,” said Räikkönen. “I want to get to know the car more. Still, at the moment, the car is capable of going faster than I am driving it, but we only had one day to test it and this will take more time. I tested for a day, but not in the conditions which we had yesterday morning, with the deeper snow - we tested in icier roads.”

Räikkönen is lying in ninth place, more than four minutes off the leader as the event closes on its halfway point.

His only problems so far have been a spin on SS2 and a puncture on the penultimate stage of day one.

“I touched the snowbank and the car turned around,” said the ICE 1 Racing driver. “But it was nice not to be digging this year like I was when I went off last year!”

Räikkönen’s co-driver Kaj Lindström admitted he has been impressed with what he has seen on their first return to a WRC round in a World Rally Car.

“It’s been a year, or almost a year, that he has been driving and the improvements have come, he’s driving very well.”

Source: WRC.com

Kimi's Column: The Suomi-boy's element

Swedish Rally preview in Finnish

The winter is gone, the new cars came. We have trained and tested as much as possible. Spent time on the countryside, cottage and own privacy. The new season starts and we have been waiting for it for some time already - I guess as much as the thousands fans also have.

It has been even more cool to start the new season because everybody starts with new cars. The car feels good. Kaitsu will continue as co-driver and that's a cool thing because we have all the time been in such a good sync with each other.

So far we have agreed upon a 10 rally program.

It's good to start from Sweden. It's cool to drive on snow. Before last year snow was the surface I had most experience of but after last season I now have experience of all the roads.

However snow is a Suomi-boy's element. Now it's a completely different thing and experience to start this rally when we are in the traffic for the second time and we have old notes to rely on. Now we have some kind of impression and understanding over what happens there when we have last year's routes.

Let's just hope that the road bears and doesn't create any nasty surprises.

In the winter I got to carry out a longtime idea of helping Finnish motocross back to the level it belongs to in the world. In the team we drive and support two dudes in the in the WC-serie and six youngsters in Finland. We do this project together with Kari Tiainen.

I've been in Spain training a bit myself too. It's a really good and efficient form of training. I recommend it to everybody.

The sad thing for the whole motorsport-gang is Robert Kubica's rally accident. It's the worst nightmare for all racing drivers that something happens. Although the safety arrangements in the cars are better these days, the risks are still the same when you fasten your belt and put on your helmet. No matter in which genre. Something can always happen.

It's really sad that it now happened to Robert. Let's wish he recovers soon and gets back driving the same way like before.

Source: KimiRaikkonen.com
Courtesy: Nicole

Kimi Räikkönen crashes into snow bank at WRC Rally Sweden 2011

Source: Amjayes

Räikkönen's shakedown began through the snowbank

Kimi Räikkönen and Kaj Lindström visited a snow bank with the new Citroën DS3 WRC car at the beginning of the first shakedown period during the weekend of Rally Sweden in the World Rally Championship season.

- Whenever there is a new car, there is a little bit of experimenting, Lindstrom acknowledged the situation.

Räikkönen likes Sweden's snowy challenge although the snowfall on Thursday put to the test the new tires and the studs.

- The tyres are suffering from that amount of snow. When it is snowing, the new tires seem to be quite difficult. When you go over even a little bit of snow, there's no grip and the car is like aquaplaning, Raikkonen thought.

Räikkönen did not have any worries from his lack of preparation for the season.

- There was no plans from last season on how to prepare. We had time to test on one day, and even then not quite the whole day, because the engine blew up. Because the engine had apparently been run in all the tests they had done.

Räikkönen is now the boss of his own racing team, ICE1 Racing.

– The team is the same even though the name is different and the car is new. Nothing else has changed. If I wanted to drive, it was better to develop something. This option was the easiest, Raikkonen explained.

What about the new car, the Citroën DS3 WRC?

- From what I have gotten to drive, it feels pretty good. It has a Super 2000-style, it feels lighter and turns more quickly.

Raikkonen did not promise any results?

It is being driven and considered. We'll see how it goes, Räikkönen acknowledged.

FINAL OFFICIAL RESULTS AFTER ALL SHAKEDOWN RUNS

1. Henning Solberg Ford 2.02,5
2. Mikko Hirvonen Ford 2.02,6
3. Petter Solberg Citroen 2.02,7
4. Sebastien Loeb Citroen 2.02,8
5. Jari-Matti Latvala Ford 2.03,2
6. P-G Andersson Ford 2.03,4
7. Mads Östberg Ford 2.03,9
8. Kimi Räikkönen Citroen 2.04,5
9. Sebastien Ogier Citroen 2.05,3
10. Eyvind Brynildsen Skoda 2.08,6 (S2000)

Source: TS
Courtesy: sleenster

Will Kimi surprise immediately?

Last year's World Rally Championship silver medallist, Jari-Matti Latvala, believes that Kimi Räikkönen will improve his driving performances this year

- If Kimi can drive here in Sweden and finish in the top 5-8, it is a good result for him, Latvala said Wednesday evening at the local Ford dealer's premises in Karlstad.

- As the season proceeds, Kimi willl surely be able to get closer to us. However, one must also remember that this season there will be quite a few rallies which are totally new to him, Latvala pointed out.

Räikkönen has gotten to drive the new Citroën for approximately 250 test kilometres.

- In some competitions Kimi may be able to reach the top five but the podium will not be reached before next season, Latvala estimates.

So far Räikkönen's best result at the world championship level is fifth place in last season's Rally of Turkey.

Source: IltaSanomat
Courtesy: sleenster

Räikkönen's hasty preparations for the World Rally Championship season

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

RALLY SWEDEN – 10-13/02/2011 – PREVIEW

After the Xsara WRCs and the C4 WRCs, both crowned with triple titles, Citroën Racing is launching the DS3 WRC on the roads of the FIA World Rally Championship

The Citroën DS3 WRC that complies with the new regulations drawn up by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile is a real package of Creative Technology.
The DS3 WRC is shorter and more compact than the previous cars, and is powered by a new 1600 cm3 direct injection turbo engine designed in-house by Citroën Racing. This new generation of World Rally Cars puts the emphasis on driving skills after the suppression of the central differential, and the return of a mechanical gear selection mechanism.

Back for their eleventh season as a Citroën works crew, Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena are starting the year with all the hunger of young chargers out to score their first victory! The Franco-Monegasque pair, 7-time world champions on the trot, are bubbling with enthusiasm on the eve of this new challenge. Alongside them are Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia, who won their place in the Citroën Total World Rally Team during a more than promising 2010 season.

Rally Sweden, the first of the thirteen rounds on the 2011 calendar, is a unique event. It is the only one run on snow, and for a long time it was an exclusively Scandinavian hunting ground. Since the year of its first running, 1950, only one driver has beaten the Vikings on their home turf, Sébastien Loeb, who won it the same year as he racked up his first world title!

The route of the 2011 rally goes through the regions of Värmland and Dalarna, and the service park is in Hagfors. The event even makes a brief foray into Norwegian territory (Lovhaugen, SS4/7).

With just a few days to go to the first round, Olivier Quesnel, the Citroën Racing Team Principal, is champing at the bit: “We can’t wait to see the first times to find out if the team has done a good job. However, Rally Sweden isn’t really representative of the difficulties we’ll have to face during the season. Our crews know what they have to do and they have my full confidence to come out on top in this new campaign.”

Stage of the season. The 4.16-km Gustavsfors (SS22) special will be televised live, and 3, 2 and 1 points will be awarded to the first three for the Drivers’ and Co- Drivers’ Championships.

Two more Citroën DS3 WRCs are entered for Petter Solberg / Chris Patterson and Kimi Räikkönen / Kaj Lindström. Each crew has covered 250 km on two stretches representative of the Swedish route. Solberg has been able to adapt the car to his driving style, and he is both delighted and enthused by the performance of the new engine. Räikkönen was happy with the DS3 balance and handling on his first test; he ran through
the different setups and will start the rally with the closest options to those of the works team.

Source: RedBullRallye

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

Räikkönen entered for Sweden

Kimi Räikkönen to compete in Sweden in a Citroen DS3 WRC run by the new ICE 1 Racing WRC Team

F1 2007 world champion Kimi Räikkönen will compete on the Rally Sweden next month.

Räikkönen, who made the switch to the World Rally Championship last season with the Citroën Junior Team, lodged his entry for the opening round of the season just before they closed at 15.00 hours on Monday.

The Finn will compete in the new Citroën DS3 WRC car, the same as will be driven by factory drivers Sebastien Loeb and Sebastien Ogier.

However, Kimi won't compete under the Citroën Junior Team banner, but rather under the name of new team, the ICE 1 Racing WRC Team.

Further details are currently sketchy as nothing official has been released by the former Ferrari and McLaren man.

However a spokesperson for Citroën told Crash.net that Kimi has rented the car from them and will run it under his own name, hence the creation of the ICE 1 Racing WRC Team – Räikkönen's nickname after all is the 'Ice-man'. Citroen added that as Räikkönen is leasing the car they won't be be putting out any sort of release.

Whether Räikkönen will now compete in all the WRC events this season is still unclear.

Source: Crash