Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Rumormill: Raikkonen to leave Ferrari for new Fiat rally team, VW to follow?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/18/rumormill-raikkonen-to-leave-ferrari-for-new-fiat-rally-team-v/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/18/rumormill-raikkonen-to-leave-ferrari-for-new-fiat-rally-team-v/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/18/rumormill-raikkonen-to-leave-ferrari-for-new-fiat-rally-team-v/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Raikkonen drives Rally Finland in a Fiat Punto Abarth

The World Rally Championship is targeting the participation of four major manufacturers within the next two seasons, and according to the latest scuttlebutt, they just might get what they are wishing for. At the turn of the millennium, the premier rally series had seven manufacturers, but series organizers and promoters reportedly feel that four would make for a more competitive environment.

Suzuki and Subaru recently withdrew their works teams from the championship, leaving Ford and Citroën as the only manufacturers in the sport together with the independent customer teams. Both Volkswagen and Fiat are expected to launch WRC efforts in the near future, but it's Fiat's initiative that's garnering the most interest in the motorsport press, as it's rumored to include one very big name.

According to rumors, Kimi Raikkonen will leave Formula One and Scuderia Ferrari to lead the Fiat rally team, expected to compete under the Abarth name. Raikkonen recently contested a series of rallies in his spare time behind the wheel of his own S2000-spec Fiat Punto Abarth (pictured above), adding fuel to the speculation suggesting that Raikkonen could have his existing contract with Ferrari simply transferred over to the Abarth outfit, as it falls under the same Fiat group umbrella as Ferrari. The move would make room for Fernando Alonso to take Kimi's place in the culmination of a long anticipated move for the Spanish champion.

[Source: Autosport and Pitpass | Image: OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty]

Rumormill: Raikkonen to leave Ferrari for new Fiat rally team, VW to follow? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abarthabarth rallyabarth wrcAbarthRallyAbarthWrcalonsofernando alonsoFernandoAlonsofiatfiat abarthfiat abarth wrcfiat rallyfiat wrcFiatAbarthFiatAbarthWrcFiatRallyFiatWrckimikimi raikkonenkimi raikkonen abarth wrckimi raikkonen fiatkimi raikkonen fiat abarthkimi raikkonen fiat abarth wrckimi raikkonen fiat wrckimi raikkonen rallykimi raikkonen wrcKimiRaikkonenKimiRaikkonenAbarthWrcKimiRaikkonenFiatKimiRaikkonenFiatAbarthKimiRaikkonenFiatAbarthWrcKimiRaikkonenFiatWrcKimiRaikkonenRallyKimiRaikkonenWrcraikkonenraikkonen abarthraikkonen fiatraikkonen rallyRaikkonenAbarthRaikkonenFiatRaikkonenRallyvolkswagen rallyvolkswagen wrcVolkswagenRallyVolkswagenWrcvw rallyVwRallyworld rally championshipWorldRallyChampionshipwrcTue, 18 Aug 2009 17:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Musical Chairs: Kimi contests WRC Finland, Rossi considers Ferrari, F1 could grow 3rd car]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/02/musical-chairs-kimi-contests-wrc-finland-rossi-considers-ferra/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/02/musical-chairs-kimi-contests-wrc-finland-rossi-considers-ferra/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/02/musical-chairs-kimi-contests-wrc-finland-rossi-considers-ferra/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Valentino Rossi tests a Ferrari F1 car - Click above for high-res image gallery

Typically F1 drivers come up through the formula racing ladder. But for every rule there's an exception, and that exception seems to be creeping up for Ferrari, who are facing a potential change-up in drivers that involves not just numerous racing classes but varied disciplines of motorsports.

First up is Kimi Raikkonen, the team's 2007 world champion who's been trying his hand at rallying. The Finnish driver has contested local-level rallies with limited success, but remains undeterred in entering the World Rally Championship stage in Finland next month. The event will be the first top-level rally for Raikkonen, and also the first professional rally on agravel surface following previous outings on ice, snow and asphalt. Given his level of performance lately in F1, if Kimi finds his footing in rally, he could make the switch.

If Kimi were to jump ship from F1, there's no lack of talent out for Ferrari, but the Scuderia could reach into a different talent pool and bring Valentino Rossi on board. The multiple MotoGP champion has tested for Ferrari on several occasions to considerable effect, and could be ripe for a switch from two wheels to four. But even if Kimi stays in F1, Rossi could find himself with an open door just the same as reports indicate that the terms of the new arrangement between the FIA and FOTA could make way for teams to field a third car in F1 in the near future.

[Source: Autosport and F1-Live]

Musical Chairs: Kimi contests WRC Finland, Rossi considers Ferrari, F1 could grow 3rd car originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari's Formula One driving aces have a history of branching into other forms of motorsport. Michael Schumacher has tried his hand at motorbike racing with some success, Felipe Massa continues to mount the occasional karting assault, and now Kimi Raikkonen is slated to tackle the Arctic Lapland Rally behind the wheel of an S2000-spec Grande Punto Abarth.

The Arctic Lapland Rally is the opening round in the Finnish Rally Championship, where Raikkonen will put his nickname "Iceman" to the test against a handful of other ex-F1 drivers, including Mika Hakkinen, Mika Salo and JJ Lehto. Veteran rally co-pilot Kaj Lindstrom, who won the Monte Carlo Rally with rally ace Tommi Makinen, will be by his side in Raikkonen's own Abarth, with which we don't doubt his patrons at Fiat had any trouble hooking him up. As for Scuderia Ferrari, they've got no problem with Kimi occasionally moonlighting on the rally circuit, where he said he might move to after retiring from Ferrari's Formula One team. And with Fernando Alonso knocking at Maranello's door for Raikkonen's seat, that could come sooner than expected. We'll be watching to see how the Iceman does on ice when the Arctic Lapland Rally kicks off on January 22.

[Source: Italiaspeed]

Raikkonen to drive the Arctic rally in a Punto Abarth originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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