Raikkonen’s former co-driver back in the IRC in Yalta

Kaj Lindström, who co-drove ex-Formula One world champion Kimi Räikkönen during the Finn’s two-year break from grand prix racing, will be back in action in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge on the Prime Yalta Rally this week.

Lindström will navigate rising Finnish talent Mikko Pajunen in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000 on the asphalt event, which gets underway with the first of 14 special stages in Ukraine’s picturesque Crimea region on Friday (14 September).

It will mark their first appearance in the IRC since they drove a Renault Twingo R2 on Targa Florio-Rally Internazionale Di Sicilia in mid-June. They are the number three seeds for the event and will be expected to chase a podium finish despite never having competed in Yalta before.