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[Universal Soldiers: F1 aces Raikkonen, Vettel and Kubica lured by rallying]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/22/universal-soldiers-f1-aces-raikkonen-vettel-and-kubica-lured-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/22/universal-soldiers-f1-aces-raikkonen-vettel-and-kubica-lured-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/22/universal-soldiers-f1-aces-raikkonen-vettel-and-kubica-lured-b/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



It used to be that a racing driver would pick his form of motorsport at the beginning of his career and stick with it for the duration. Sure, there have been a few notable exceptions - especially among the Finns - but these days, it seems as if the exceptions are gaining on the norm. F1 drivers like Juan Pablo Montoya are moving to NASCAR, WRC aces like Sebastien Loeb and MotoGP champs like Valentio Rossi are trying their hand at F1, while F1 champs like Michael Schumacher are checking out motorbike racing. But the latest trend has a growing number of current, active Formula One drivers contesting rallies on the world stage.

The most notable is Kimi Raikkonen, who has driven a few rallies behind the wheel of his own Punto Abarth. Now that he's looking to sit out of the next F1 season, all indications are that the departing Ferrari driver will find his way into the WRC. While downplaying the lingering prospect of the 2007 Formula One champion racing for the newly-christened Mercedes Grand Prix team next season, his managers are reportedly hard at work to get him a WRC drive for 2010. The most likely scenario would place Raikkonen with Citroen: Both the French rally team and the Finnish driver are sponsored by Red Bull, and the rapprochement could could pave the way for Kimi to return to F1 in 2011 for Red Bull Racing.

Even Red Bull's current F1 ace, Sebastian Vettel, has reportedly expressed interest in trying his hand at rallying, although his team principal is reportedly against the idea. After winning the Nations Cup at the Race of Champions together with Schumacher three years running, the young German has certainly demonstrated the versatility of his talent.

Meanwhile, the highly-rated Robert Kubica is preparing for his second rally since leaving BMW Sauber for the Renault F1 team. After a dismal first attempt, the Pole is set to return to the wheel of a Renaultsport Clio R3 Maxi for the final round of the French Rally Championship at Var next weekend. If Kubica manages to finish this time around, we could yet see more F1 drivers following him onto the rally scene.

[Sources: Autosport and F1-Live | Image: Clive Mason/Getty]

Universal Soldiers: F1 aces Raikkonen, Vettel and Kubica lured by rallying originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kimikimi raikkonenkimi raikkonen wrcKimiRaikkonenKimiRaikkonenWrckubicaraikkonenrobertrobert kubicarobert kubica rallyrobert kubica renaultRobertKubicaRobertKubicaRallyRobertKubicaRenaultsebastiansebastian vettelsebastian vettel rallysebastian vettel wrcSebastianVettelSebastianVettelRallySebastianVettelWrcvettelSun, 22 Nov 2009 15:03:00 EST<![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[F1: Ferrari holds on to its Finn -- Raikkonen extends to 2010]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/13/f1-ferrari-holds-on-to-its-finn-raikkonen-extends-to-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/13/f1-ferrari-holds-on-to-its-finn-raikkonen-extends-to-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/13/f1-ferrari-holds-on-to-its-finn-raikkonen-extends-to-2010/#commentsFiled under: ,

Ferrari announced during the first practice day of this weekend's Monza GP that Kimi Raikkonen's contract has been extended by one year. This mean's he's locked into service with the scuderia until the end of 2010, which is the same time Felipe Massa's contract runs out. Terms of the extension weren't disclosed, but the fact that Ferrari re-signed the Iceman means they aren't nearly as worried about his recent form as the rest of the paddock appears to be. It also means that Fernando Alonso can now decide where he wants to go for at least two years and get the silly season officially over with.

[Source: F1 Live]

F1: Ferrari holds on to its Finn -- Raikkonen extends to 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 13 Sep 2008 14:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"So...wanna see a pensioner drive?"

Michael Schumacher casts a pretty big shadow over all of F1, and nobody knows it better than Kimi Raikkonen. That's bred a little animosity by Ferrari's latest world champion to his septuple-crown predecessor, but that hasn't stopped either from fulfilling their contractual obligations towards their corporate overlords at Fiat by appearing side-by side, swapping keys in a television commercial for the new Fiat Bravo.

The ad reminds us of a similar spot filmed with uber-rivals Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso earlier in the season for their employers at Mercedes-Benz. The same spirit of, ahem, "camaraderie" permeates this Fiat spot, filmed in German, in which Kimi and Michael take turns behind the wheel and riding shotgun. Follow the jump for the video, complete with - God bless 'em - English subtitles.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Raikkonen and Schumacher in Fiat Bravo commercial

VIDEO: Raikkonen and Schumacher in Fiat Bravo commercial originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adbravocommercialfiatkimimichaelraikkonenschumacherspottelevisiontjettvvideoTue, 11 Dec 2007 18:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Ferrari's ?400 baseball cap]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/28/ferraris-400-baseball-cap/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/28/ferraris-400-baseball-cap/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/28/ferraris-400-baseball-cap/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Massa, Raikkonen signed cap

For many motorsports aficionados, allegiance to Ferrari transcends the lines of age and social class. Young and old, from the everyman to captains of industry, on race days the differences are tossed out the window and they gather en masse, a sea of red in the stands, as tifosi. Ferrari knows this, and as a result, its strength as a merchandiser is unparalleled in the automotive landscape. Leveraging its iconic logos, rich history and legions of owners and fans, it has created a machine that churns out collectibles and accessories designed to fit almost any budget.

And now, the tifosi have a new bauble to fight over, and it's priced for the deeper-pockets crowd. In honor of the 1-2 podium finish at the Turkish GP for Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari has offered 50 signed baseball caps. Each lid is autographed by both Felipe and Kimi, arrives in a big red Ferrari cardboard box, has a certificate of authenticity, and costs a whopping €400. On the Ferrari Store website, the conversion to USD is helpfully provided. $526.20 (plus VAT) worth of available credit on your plastic of choice is all it'll take. We don't recommend wearing this one to go out and mow the lawn. For that, we suggest the vastly more economical (yet still pricey at $33 USD) un-autographed version.

[Source: Ferrari Store]

Ferrari's ?400 baseball cap originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Aug 2007 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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