Raikkonen joins WRC with Citroen

By Matt Beer Friday, December 4th 2009, 06:19 GMT

Kimi RaikkonenCitroen has announced that Kimi Raikkonen will join its World Rally Championship line-up in a Red Bull-backed Citroen Junior Team car, as predicted by AUTOSPORT.

The 2007 Formula 1 world champion will be joined in the Red Bull Citroen squad by former Junior WRC champion Sebastien Ogier, who completed an impressive WRC rookie season with the squad last year.

Raikkonen made his top flight rallying debut in an S2000 Abarth at his home round of the WRC in Finland earlier this year, earning the respect of the series regulars for the speed with which he adapted to driving on the stages. He has hinted for many years that he was keen to pursue a career in rallying after F1, and when he announced last month that he would take a sabbatical following the breakdown of his talks with McLaren, the WRC was seen as his most likely destination.

"I always wanted to compete in rally, especially in the World Rally Championship at some point in my career," said Raikkonen.

"Thanks to Red Bull, I have the opportunity to drive the best car of the series with the Citroen C4. This is a new but very exciting challenge."

Speculation has suggested that Raikkonen could return to F1 with Red Bull after his first WRC season. He confirmed that his Citroen deal only covered 2010 at present.

"For the moment we have a one-year contract and we will see how it goes for the future," Raikkonen said. "I am really looking forward to testing the car and taking the start of the first rally."

Citroen team boss Olivier Quesnel said he was delighted by Red Bull's increased involvement, and that the squad had such a strong Junior line-up in Raikkonen and Ogier alongside factory drivers Sebastien Loeb and Dani Sordo.

"Red Bull's commitment and energy are a perfect fit for Citroen's ongoing thirst for victory," Quesnel said. "We will continue to count on Sébastien and Dani to defend our world titles in 2010, and we will also be prolonging our association with Sebastien Ogier who showed outstanding potential this year.

"Last but not least, it is with immense joy that we welcome Kimi Raikkonen to our ranks. We are very proud that he has chosen Citroen.

"In addition to the confirmation of these four crews, we will hopefully be able to announce other programmes over the coming weeks."

Raikkonen and Ogier will contest 12 of next year's 13 WRC rounds, but will skip the New Zealand event.





Hirvonen to drive Fiesta in Monte

Friday, December 4th 2009, 11:03 GMT

Force Fiesta S2000Mikko Hirvonen will contest next month's Monte Carlo Rally in the Fiesta S2000.

The Finn's participation in the opening IRC round of the season was confirmed this morning.

This will also be the first time the M-Sport-built machine has been used in anger. It made its public debut on last month's Rally of Scotland, where it was driven as zero car by Matthew Wilson.

Hirvonen drove the car for the first time at a test in the south of France earlier this week.

Hirvonen said: "The Fiesta S2000 looks and sounds fantastic. It's great to finally drive it, be part of the development of a totally new car and I was surprised how quickly I got used to driving it. I was impressed by how good the setup and the chassis are and that allowed me to push really hard straight away.

"The conditions here in France have been difficult but even with a changing grip level I have been able to drive in a very committed way. It's been great to work with Christian [Loriaux, M-Sport technical director] and the team and to have had a positive input to the new project.

"I've driven the Monte Carlo Rally five times previously, so I'm familiar with the roads and the conditions. There are almost four months between the final round of 2009 and the start of the 2010 season, so this will be ideal for getting my mind back into competition mode."

With the Fiesta due to be homologated in January, the French Alpine event provided the perfect place to measure the latest Super 2000 car against its competition.

M-Sport managing director Malcolm Wilson said: "Ford has a long association with the Monte Carlo Rally, which we won in 2006 with Marcus Gronholm in a Focus RS World Rally Car.

"It remains a legendary event and will provide spectators with an exciting chance to see the Fiesta S2000 in competitive action over classic stages such as the Col de Turini. Competition is the true challenge for any new car, and Mikko's feedback on its performance will prove valuable for our development programme," he added.

Ford's motorsport chief Gerard Quinn said Hirvonen's Monte entry made sense, allowing the Finn competition time ahead of the opening round of the World Rally Championship in Sweden a month later

"The 2010 WRC season begins almost a month later than usual so the Monte Carlo Rally will provide a perfect warm-up for Mikko," said Quinn. "It's also a great test opportunity.

"Road conditions usually vary between dry asphalt and snow or ice. There are four asphalt rallies in the 2010 series, so it will give Mikko valuable practice on that surface. If the weather is wintery, it will also be a good rehearsal for the WRC's first round in Sweden."

The Monte Carlo Rally will take place from January 19-23.