Kimi Raikkonen is set to continue with his rallying career in the WRC next year, according to www.autosport.com.
Red Bull are keen to retain Raikkonen’s services for the 2011 World Rally Championship, with a view to a possible Formula One return the following year.
Raikkonen said: “I don’t miss Formula 1 and I am enjoying what I am doing now. I have still not decided what I am doing next year yet. Soon I have to decide, maybe it will be just after Rally Finland.”
A Red Bull source told Autosport magazine: “We are very happy with what Kimi has done this season. He is very good for the Red Bull brand and we are looking to extend his agreement into next year. I think this is likely.”
Citroen Racing chief Olivier Quesnel reckons he will be able to keep Raikkonen for 2011.
“I’m sure this will happen,” he said. “For myself, he is really involved in rallying and he wants to succeed. I will be pleased if he will stay. He has done one year and he needs to do one more year to make sure.”
Sebastien Loeb also believes that Raikkonen needs to remain in the WRC for another year.
“He should, because this year he is only learning,” Loeb said. “He cannot be competitive this year and if he stops then he has lost this year. If he continues next year he
will arrive on the rallies knowing where he is.
“He has the notes, he can modify them, which is much easier than this year when he had to make them all from the start. He will know better the stages in his head. He can improve a lot from this year to next year.
“Especially because we all change cars, so he will get in the new car and we will also. I’m sure he would have more chances to succeed next season.”
– Credit: www.autosport.com and www.rallybuzz.com