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Raikkonen for Rally Finland
30 June 2009
Ferrari Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen will make his World Rally Championship debut when he contests Rally Finland next month.
Raikkonen has already competed in three rallies this year, but the ninth round of the World Rally Championship will be his first competitive outing on gravel.
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The Finn, who won the F1 world championship with Ferrari in 2007, tested an Abarth Grande Punto for two days in central Finland earlier this week in preparation for the event.
Raikkonen will be co-driven by Kaj Lindstrom, the former co-driver of four-time world champion Tommi Makinen. Makinen's own racing team will run the Abarth for Raikkonen.
Lindstrom said: "He has competed on snow and asphalt, but never gravel, but we have tested on gravel," said Lindstrom. "But one of the hardest things for Kimi will be the speed of this event. Rally Finland and the roads used are so fast, like nothing we have done before - that does take time.
"But, let's not forget, this guy is a pretty good driver! He's very talented and I'm sure he will cope fine."
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