Citroën confirmed today that Kimi Räikkönen has signed a one-year deal to compete in the World Rally Championship with its Junior Team in a C4 backed by Red Bull. The “second-string” Citroën team already runs a car for driver Sébastien Ogier, complementing the factory team cars of Dani Sordo and Sébastien Loeb. Kimi’s co-driver for 2010 will be Kaj Lindstrom, who co-drove with four-time World Rally champion Tommi Mäkinen in the 1990s.
Kimi drove in this year’s WRC Finnish rally and ran as high as a respectable 15th before he crashed on day two. This is a great opportunity for both Citroën, which has top-notch equipment, and Räikkönen, who just might have loads of untapped talent for this type of racing. Hyvää onnea, Kimi! You’re a Finn; you can do it!
Now if only someone like SPEED TV would sign a contract with the WRC so we could watch the 2010 rallies live in the States…please?
Voodoo Bob