04/12/2009
NEWS STORY
Citroen has confirmed that 2007 Formula One World Champion, Kimi Raikkonen, is to take part in next year's World Rally Championship with the French manufacturer's Junior World Rally Team.
The Finn, who made his WRC debut this year, had already announced that he would be taking a sabbatical from F1 next season after failing to secure a seat with a leading team, his team of choice being McLaren.
Following reports that the Finn was considering joining the Citroen WRC team, the French outfit today confirmed that Raikkonen will contest 12 of the 13 rounds in 2010, missing the New Zealand event.
Raikkonen, who will be co-driven by fellow Finn Kaj Lindstrom - who previously partnered multiple WRC champion Tommi Makinen - will be backed by Red Bull, a long time personal sponsor of the Finn.
"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. For the moment we have a one-year contract and we will see how it goes for the future. I am really looking forward to testing the car and taking the start of the first rally."