Raikkonen reveals rallying comeback plans

Kimi Raikkonen is planning a rallying comeback when he calls time on his career as a Formula One driver, adding that he remains a firm fan of his country’s most popular sport.

Speaking to Autosport.com, the Finnish ace says he doesn’t want his two-year stint in the FIA World Rally Championship in 2010 and 2011 to be his last, but hinted that he wouldn’t pursue a full-time programme when he does return.

“It’s not that I lost interest in rallying,” said the Lotus racer. “It’s just that I’ve always raced in my life and when you race against each other it’s different to just doing times. I enjoy racing against people. It’s why I came back, to have a fight against others. I had a good time [in rallying] but I kind of missed racing.”

Of his rallying comeback, Raikkonen told Autosport.com: “I will do it for fun. The one reason why I wanted to do it in the first place was to see if I can do it or not. I’m a big fan of it and I always thought it was so difficult that I wanted to see what happens. I still want to improve in it and try to do well. It’s something that, when I’m a bit older, I can do and have fun with. I will definitely do it when I have more time.”

Raikkonen’s former WRC rivals will be back in action on Wales Rally GB from 13-16 September.