2nd August 2009

Kimi Raikkonen has crashed out of Rally Finland in the final stage on day two.

The Finn, who was making his debut in the World Rally Championship this weekend, had been running very well following an impressive performance on Friday, when he set eight top-20 stage times.

Having started the last day in 17th place overall, the Ferrari man was up to 15th post-SS18 and on course for a rostrum finish in Group N. However the 29.29 kilometre Vaarinmaja stage - the longest of the event - was to be his undoing when he rolled his Abarth Grande Punto S2000, crashing in the same place that caught out Adapta WRT’s Mads Ostberg.

Raikkonen and co-driver Kaj Lindstrom, who formerly partnered multiple world rally champion Tommi Makinen, were both uninjured in the incident.

Speaking prior to his exit, Raikkonen had been unhappy with his car as the engine was playing up. Despite that though he still managed to increase his pace and posted two 14th best efforts in SS17 and SS18.

“We cannot do anything about our engine problems,” said the Finn after the 12.75 kilometre Urria test, SS17. “The handling is okay now, but we don’t have enough power. It is a real shame, as it would have been nice to have had a little bit more speed.”

Meanwhile Patrik Flodin, who had been fighting with Raikkonen for 15th and P3 in the Production class - 15.1 seconds adrift, was disappointed to see the ‘iceman’ go out. “I saw Kimi’s car in the same place that Mads Ostberg went off and a lot of spectators were helping,” Flodin added. “It is a real shame that Kimi has gone off - it was a nice feeling to be rallying against him.” 

Source - Kimi’s Official Website

Image (c) Bridgestone Corporation

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Maranello, 29 July 2009

First of all I want to wish Felipe well again. He had an incredible accident on last Saturday and I think that he was on everybody’s mind in the Scuderia Ferrari and the drivers on the grid. I know that his condition is improving constantly and I’m glad to hear that. I really hope that he’ll be alright soon and get back on the track. It was an absurd accident and the Team had some very difficult moments, because in the beginning we didn’t know why Felipe ran off the track at this point. But then a driver has to blind out certain things once he’s on the track.

The second place on Sunday was a good result for the Scuderia, especially under these circumstances. We’ve made some progress, there’s not doubt. The high temperatures helped our car and I could press hard on the soft and on the hard compound. We managed to get a place on the podium, but we couldn’t really fight for victory. It’s strange how it always goes well on certain tracks and some are completely the opposite: in Germany things go always wrong for me, but in Hungary I drove on the podium again, for the fifth time.

With these eight points we gained here we’re now on the third place in the Constructors’ Championship. That’s where we want to stay, because this is the goal we set for ourselves for the second half of the season. Obviously we’re trying to gain another place on the podium, but we know that it’s difficult, because the competition at the top is really hard. I won’t give up also because I would like to win at least one race this year.

Now I can’t wait to race at the Finland Rally, although I’m going there to have fun. We had some very good tests with my Fiat Grande Punto Abarth S2000 and we’re ready for racing. I’ve got great experience in Formula 1 but not in rally driving, although I know a bit what it’s about. Getting used to a new track in Formula 1 is quite easy, but in a rally the stages always change. After this experience I’ll relax with my family and my friends. It’s high summer in Finland and it’s good to chill out a bit before we start with the preparations for the European GP at Valencia. 

Source - Kimi’s Official Site

Image (c) Bridgestone Corporation

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Kimi Raikkonen has taken part in Q&A session just a few hours before he takes part in his first WRC rally.

He seemed very relaxed and excited rather than feeling any pressure from taking part in first WRC event in his home country.

During the interview he discussed his aims and chances for the weekend which basically is “to stay on the road and remain hopeful…”

When asked whether he could see rallying as a future career, the Finn said: “Yes definitely. I am still in F1 and still have one more year contract but everything is open and it is nice to be a part of it here. I am a bit too young to do nothing so I will see. It all depends on which way F1 is going. Nobody is exactly sure how it will be. I am in no hurry.”

Please check out the interview in full on WRC.com

Here at Gokimi we wish Kimi all the best for this weekend!

Image (c) Bridgestone Corporation

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Kaj Lindstrom spoke exclusively to WRC.com about being co-driver for Kimi Raikkonen at this weekend’s Rally Finland.

Kimi will be taking part in this first FIA World Rally Championship event in his Abarth Grande Punto S2000 and is paring up with Lindstrom (Tommi Makinen’s ex co-driver) again as they make their WRC debut.

Lindstrom has however partnered Raikkonen in three previous National rallies in Finland but this will be the partnerships gravel debut. He talked of the testing and car preparations they have been doing,the advice Makinen has given Kimi, their chances for the weekend and why Kimi wants to do Rallying.

He told WRC.com that Kimi “wants to see if he can do rallying at the proper level and of course doing Rally Finland has always been a dream for him.”

Please read the full interview on WRC.com, where he discusses their preparations for the rally in full.

Source - WRC.com

Image (c) Bridgestone Corporation

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