Speculation-thread: Will Kimi be in WRC or F1 next season?

[Mar]

Agree, but he better doesn't think about Nascar or:

hope he is planning to take part in Arctic Rally again.
he needs to send entry form until monday 17.1.2011 18:00

Oh! thanks for the information. I was curious about it. There're almost 4 weeks time for that, good, good.

[saif]

Raikkonen close to Citroen WRC deal

Kimi Raikkonen is on the verge of committing his future to Citroen in the World Rally Championship, AUTOSPORT has learned, with an announcement expected within the next few weeks.

The former Formula 1 world champion has been the subject of intense speculation over recent months - with the Finn having been linked with a return to grand prix racing or a switch to Ford in the WRC at various points over the year.

However, his interest in Renault cooled when he got annoyed that details of his contact were leaked to the press as the Enstone-based team held back on deciding what to do with Vitaly Petrov.

Most recently, Raikkonen's talks with Ford were understood to have reached an advanced stage about him joining up with Ken Block in the Monster-sponsored team.

But, despite looking at options elsewhere, Raikkonen's stance over recent weeks was always to remain a WRC driver and Citroen Sport director Olivier Quesnel said the French firm wants to keep him.

High level sources have revealed to AUTOSPORT that Raikkonen recently agreed to remain at his current Citroen Junior outfit for 2011 so he can build on the experience he gained this year.

His management team was unavailable for comment about the state of negotiations with Citroen, while Red Bull would only confirm that it remains in negotiations with the former Ferrrari driver about 2011.

However, a source close to the Citroen team told AUTOSPORT: "We expect Kimi to be here again next year. He has talked to a few people about a few things, but this is where he's going to be. The agreement, we're told, is made."

During his debut season in the WRC, Raikkonen's best result was fifth place on the Rally of Turkey - while he won his first ever stage on the Rallye Deutschland.

Once his deal is officially signed and confirmed by the team, Raikkonen is expected to get his first taste of his 2011 DS3 WRC in the first few weeks of January.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88758

[Kriss]

thanks saif


Merry Christmas everyone!

[sleenster]

Autosport was the first one to report that Red Bull didn't want to sponsor Kimi anymore and now they are reporting that Red Bull are still in negotiations with Kimi

Merry Christmas to you too Kriss

[Andreas]

Merry Christmast to all first!

Hmm, might be true and i hope so too.
But... this would be bad news for Petter.
Petter should join Ken Block at Monster!

[bourbon]

To you: (you know who you are )

Merry Christmas everybody,

Burbs

[ish678]

After being away for a few months and just catching up on over 100 pages of posts...I'm still no closer to knowing what might happen. Sigh.

[Kittina]

Merry Christmas everybody!

I made some gifts for the Kimi fans.





http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/5708/udvozlolap4.jpg
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/3889/udvozlolap5.jpg

[Kriss]

thanks Kittina

Merry Christmas to you

[luviceman]

thank you Kittina for your fantastic gift

Wishing you a very merry Chiristmas, and happy Christmas to you all

[Linda-Anne]

Merry Christmas and A happy and healthy new year to everybody on this wonderful web site.

[Ice-Ludy]

thanks Kittina

Merry Christmas to you

+1

[sleenster]

Raikkonen announcement expected soon

24th December 2010
By Giles Wade

Kimi Raikkonen is reckoned to have agreed a deal to drive for the Citroen Junior Team again next season.

Sources close to the French team are certain the Finn will return for a second season, contesting all 13 rallies instead of the 12 he competed in his rookie year. Raikkonen’s management and his primary backer Red Bull have remained tight-lipped about next season.

“Kimi’s deal is done,” said the source. “He’ll be staying with Citroen for another year, but the team name is probably going to change.”

Citroen Racing director Olivier Quesnel admitted the Citroen Junior Team moniker would probably be replaced for next year, given that, since Sebastien Ogier’s elevation to the Citroen Total World Rally Team, there are no young drivers coming through the CJT.

In recent months, Raikkonen has been increasingly keen to remain in the world championship, eschewing a return to Formula 1 despite being strongly linked to a Renault seat.

Sources state an announcement of Raikkonen’s deal to drive a DS3 WRC in 2011 will be made in the New Year.

Raikkonen finished 10th in the World Rally Championship in his debut season, with his best result was fifth on the Rally of Turkey in April.

http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/raik ... cted_soon/

[luieluv]

Raikkonen announcement expected soon

24th December 2010
By Giles Wade

Kimi Raikkonen is reckoned to have agreed a deal to drive for the Citroen Junior Team again next season.

Sources close to the French team are certain the Finn will return for a second season, contesting all 13 rallies instead of the 12 he competed in his rookie year. Raikkonen’s management and his primary backer Red Bull have remained tight-lipped about next season.

“Kimi’s deal is done,” said the source. “He’ll be staying with Citroen for another year, but the team name is probably going to change.”

Citroen Racing director Olivier Quesnel admitted the Citroen Junior Team moniker would probably be replaced for next year, given that, since Sebastien Ogier’s elevation to the Citroen Total World Rally Team, there are no young drivers coming through the CJT.

In recent months, Raikkonen has been increasingly keen to remain in the world championship, eschewing a return to Formula 1 despite being strongly linked to a Renault seat.

Sources state an announcement of Raikkonen’s deal to drive a DS3 WRC in 2011 will be made in the New Year.

Raikkonen finished 10th in the World Rally Championship in his debut season, with his best result was fifth on the Rally of Turkey in April.

http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/raik ... cted_soon/

Fantastico..
So it seems Red Bull may still not sponsor kimi and kimi will be backed by a new partner.

[Kittina]

http://www.mtv3.fi/urheilu/ralli/uutise ... 12/1246943

Google translation:

Raikkonen does not drive anymore junior team

Kimi Raikkonen is almost certainly pursue a career in the mass rally of Citroen team ranks second season of 2011, but next season will no longer be called stable junioritiimiksi says Maxrally.com.

For the period ending 31-year-old Raikkonen Citroen formed junior team together just before Christmas 27 years have exhausted Ogierin with Sebastien. Junior Team won the team a last season, aptly named, because Raikkonen only learned how to rally and Ogieria trained towards a bigger challenge. Ogier to drive next season, Citroen's number one team and junior team gets a new name.

Maxrallyn sources, the official announcement Räikkönen Citroen continuation from the year-end periods. Räikkönen's next season in the program would include all 13 World Championship rallies. 28-year old Dutchman Peter van Merksteijn junior secondary drive Citroen races in the garage ten o'clock.