Source: KimiRaikkonen.com (Finnish preview) | Translation courtesy of Nicole
A Snowy Premiere
Isn’t it so in the theater that after a bad dress rehearsal you have a good premiere. Hopefully the same applies to me on the rally stage.
Our practice, the Arctic Rally, didn’t go that bad but there was that one blunder which should not happen again in Sweden.
It’s really cool to go racing and start the season. You always enjoy it and it’s what I’ve always wanted to do most.
My feelings are terribly great as always before the season’s opening race. When you are a racer all you want to do is race. It’s great that the rally season starts now while in F1 you had to wait for one month longer.
I know I don’t have too much of rally experience but out of the five rallies I’ve raced three on snow. That’s why it’s good that the first WRC rally is the same element.
But the snow isn’t an easy surface. You have to drive very precisely in a clean driving line so there won’t be any extra program.
In Arctic rally I got a good feeling of snow and we got to compare our pace to Dani Sordo’s pace. Well, Sordo went but that’s how it was supposed to go when the guy is driving in a gang of the four best in the world.
We know with Lindstrƶm’s Kaitsu where the difference came from. Now we have excercised with those things and tried to get the package in as good shape as possible for Sweden.
I need to get the car more comfortable to drive so that I know how it behaves and how it turns. Of course I also have to adapt my own driving style at the same time.
In Arctic rally our advantage was that we got to drive the rally with the same tyres we will use in Sweden.
People ask me all the time about what’s my goal. I don’t want to start acting rashly with those things because it’s useless. We just try to get some good rallies in the beginning and start to lift the pace as soon as there’s a possibility for it.
I’m going into an unfamiliar world now. All rallies except JyvƤskylƤ (Rally Finland) are completely new experiences for me. That’s why I have so much to learn and I have no idea of my own pace at this point.
We have been hashing over this but the truth is that the rally gang is much more laidback than the people on the F1-paddock are. These guys like to do everything together and we talk much more freely about driving.
If I don’t find the pace it’s for sure not because others don’t want to advice me and help a newbie.
A Snowy Premiere
Isn’t it so in the theater that after a bad dress rehearsal you have a good premiere. Hopefully the same applies to me on the rally stage.Our practice, the Arctic Rally, didn’t go that bad but there was that one blunder which should not happen again in Sweden.
It’s really cool to go racing and start the season. You always enjoy it and it’s what I’ve always wanted to do most.
My feelings are terribly great as always before the season’s opening race. When you are a racer all you want to do is race. It’s great that the rally season starts now while in F1 you had to wait for one month longer.
I know I don’t have too much of rally experience but out of the five rallies I’ve raced three on snow. That’s why it’s good that the first WRC rally is the same element.
But the snow isn’t an easy surface. You have to drive very precisely in a clean driving line so there won’t be any extra program.
In Arctic rally I got a good feeling of snow and we got to compare our pace to Dani Sordo’s pace. Well, Sordo went but that’s how it was supposed to go when the guy is driving in a gang of the four best in the world.
We know with Lindstrƶm’s Kaitsu where the difference came from. Now we have excercised with those things and tried to get the package in as good shape as possible for Sweden.
I need to get the car more comfortable to drive so that I know how it behaves and how it turns. Of course I also have to adapt my own driving style at the same time.
In Arctic rally our advantage was that we got to drive the rally with the same tyres we will use in Sweden.
People ask me all the time about what’s my goal. I don’t want to start acting rashly with those things because it’s useless. We just try to get some good rallies in the beginning and start to lift the pace as soon as there’s a possibility for it.
I’m going into an unfamiliar world now. All rallies except JyvƤskylƤ (Rally Finland) are completely new experiences for me. That’s why I have so much to learn and I have no idea of my own pace at this point.
We have been hashing over this but the truth is that the rally gang is much more laidback than the people on the F1-paddock are. These guys like to do everything together and we talk much more freely about driving.
If I don’t find the pace it’s for sure not because others don’t want to advice me and help a newbie.
FUCK ISRAEL 
Some more articles:A good read here! > http://www.rallybuzz.com/raikkonen-red-bull-rally-sweden-pre/Translation courtesy of Leijona: http://www.ts.fi/f1/uutiset/109672.html—————————-Loeb gives 4-5 rallies as learning time for KimiTurun Sanomat 7.2 2010 21:23:28Sebastien Loeb, rally’s six-time champion and winner of 54 races, believes the new contender Kimi RƤikkƶnen’s competitiveness will be solved during the season’s first 4-5 rally-races.- If Kimi can’t reach proper times in the first 4-5 races, one can draw a conclusion that it will be really difficult for him to stand out from the mass, Loeb said in a recent interview.- I don’t believe it will take many races for Kimi to be able to show his speed. When most of the special stages are driven for a second time that can give Kimi a certain benefit.Loeb doesn’t question the F1-champ’s adaptability.- Kimi’s fantastic career development in F1 gives you a that kind of image that he could be very fast in tarmac rallies – like in Catalonia. But as Kimi comes from Finland, he could be fast also on other surfaces such as snow and gravel, where there isn’t that much grip, Loeb ponders.It’s good to train in FinlandLoeb believes that it would be easier to transfer from rally to track rather than from being a so called "speed-driver" to rally-races.- On track one can get a good time with a good car when you follow the lines and driving-lines carefully. In rally it is more difficult to get such a competitive pace as the notes are so important and every time you will have to know how to improvise.- I would imagine that learning and understanding the notes is not easy at all for Kimi. But he has a good opportunity to coach himself and learn to hear the voices inside his helmet. There is enough forests in Finland and in the middle of forests there are small roads where Kimi can drive kilometer after a kilometer and get used to the notes properly.But what kind of image does Loeb have before the WRC Sweden about the Citroen Junior Team’s driver called Kimi RƤikkƶnen?- At this point I know what every other rally-expert knows. Last summer in JyvƤskylƤ in Finnish WC-rally Kimi didn’t drive bad at all. He lost with Fiat Grande Punto a second per kilometer to his own class’ top.- I don’t believe it will generate difficulties for Kimi to change from Super 2000-class to WRC-car. Only making notes in completely unfamiliar rallies is the thing what everything depends on, Loeb weighs.(Turun Sanomat)HEIKKI KULTA—————————-
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Kimi, all the best to you š Just enjoy what you do, I won’t set any espectation for you this year. Just wish you getting better & better each race š
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Interview: http://www.focus.de/sport/mehrsport/motorsport-rallye-raeikkoenen-am-liebsten-will-ich-gewinnen_aid_478507.html———————————–Raikkonen: "Ideally I want to win"Ex-Formula 1 driver Kimi RƤikkƶnen is looking forward to the adventure rally. In the SID meeting the Finnish ‘Iceman told "by his family and rally the goals for its premiere.SID: "They look very relaxed. Are not you concerned that your debut in the World Rally Championship could go wrong? After all, you put their rally car at the dress rehearsal two times in addition to the runway?"Kimi RƤikkƶnen: "I’m not relaxed, perhaps, but with me at peace. I was before, but the rally world is an entirely different, more friendly environment than the Formula 1 I am happy here and feel very fine. What driving concerns: Rally is an entirely different topic than the Formula 1 For me, almost everything is new. Of course I will continue to make mistakes. This is a learning process. Of course everyone looks up when someone like me ends up in a ditch. But this has quickly. It’s not different than when on the track is in the gravel. "SID: "Nevertheless, it is surprising that a Formula 1 world champion in his prime to have such a complex sport such as the World Rally Championship moves. You do not be afraid to fail?"Raikkonen: "Not at all. This is not the way I approach a thing. I look forward to a new challenge, especially to them. Rally is going just great. Failure or not is not the issue for me."SID: "The expectations of a Formula 1 drivers are still high?"Raikkonen: "Only those who have no clue. Again, in rallying for me, almost everything is new. In addition, I step up against the best drivers in the world. I will try to learn quickly, and I hope to be able to ride fast forward. I just want to be good at what I do. "SID: What are the essential differences between the World Rally Championship and Formula 1? "KR: First, the environment. In the WRC you will feel immediately comfortable, this is like one big family. They talk much more with other drivers. That there is in Formula 1 is not so. That may also be because that one in a rally against the clock runs, and not directly against the enemy. "SID: "And at the car and driving?"KR: Since the differences are even greater. Above all, sitting in the car a rally co-driver beside me. One is thus not alone. Secondly, we know every curve on the track. A piece of asphalt with different radii, sometimes narrow, sometimes wide. But basically, it’s always the same, whether at the Nurburgring or at Suzuka. In rallying you have to drive on different surfaces: snow, ice, gravel, asphalt, sometimes dry, sometimes wet, or even in the fog. In addition, changing the route , especially on gravel. Then you come to a corner, and now looks very different from what you’ve recorded it two days ago when the track inspection. This is an incredible challenge. "SID: "Before your World Cup debut, you have covered approximately 500 kilometers with your new company car – a Citroen C4, as it controls the world champion, Sebastien Loeb. As you prepare even the most difficult?"KR: A lot. Most of dealing with the pace notes. Can quickly drive many, but a note of curves in detail and implement the competition also is very difficult. That takes time. Because I will unfortunately continue to make mistakes. Then catch I myself, that I have two or three times on the brakes rather than just climbed only once. There are many little things that I need to work and I will. "SID: "Yet you go confidently in the World Cup opener in Sweden?"Raikkonen: "Why not?" I’ve prepared myself well and am glad to be in labor. Of course I feel some pressure, but that one of them.’s Going to snow, but the most difficult. Less because of the brains or the brakes. The problem lies in the fact that it is difficult to detect the line. If you just a bit too far out, slipping it out already. On gravel I do easier. And on the tarmac, I can most certainly bring my knowledge of what brakes concessions and so forth concerns. well, that the asphalt queue runs until the second half of the season. "SID: What are your goals? "Raikkonen: "Should I build no gross blunder, I hope, too early in the season championship points finishes to drive. Later, when I have more experience, I will try to get on the podium. But clearly, most of all I want to win. Only there are others that have it. But they are also an advantage. Some are not very good, but know the championship rallies in years. "SID: "What happens after this season? Do you have a longer term contract with Red Bull?"KR: No, I have only a one-year contract and do not know what I’ll do next year. I focus once this season in the WRC. This is a challenge that I like. The World Rally Championship Title I appreciate the driving performance much higher a than those in Formula 1, it would irritate me already to address the. But think about it now makes no sense. "SID: "You miss the Formula 1?"KR: No, why? "Of course there are also people from Formula 1, which had continued into contact, but now from a different environment."SID: "Follow the Formula 1? Are you interested in actual test drives?"KR: No, what others make me never very interested. I know what is in the newspaper, but I would never go to the Internet and look up the test times of other drivers. "SID: "So you’re interested, either, what is your successor, Fernando Alonso in a Ferrari or whatever runs the comeback of Michael Schumacher?"KR: Yeah, I’m interested in both little. Alonso and Schumacher are doing their thing, I mine. I look at myself and am glad that I can now do what makes me fun: drive rally. ———————————–
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haha ! great last interview! I am not really interested either in F1 drivers times for the moment ! :pNice to read again his columns, they are so cool!I am happy the WRC season begins ealier than F1 one !I can’t wait to see him in action !! He’s so joyful and eager to drive ! We sure will enjoy with him!Go Kimi! And just enjoy !Keep flying !
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