Kimi Again.

Raikkonen: Jordan is the toughest challenge yet

By Paul Murphy

Kimi Raikkonen – the winner of the Formula 1 World Championship in 2007 – thinks that the Jordan Rally could be one of the toughest challenges he has faced yet.

After competing on snow in Sweden, Raikkonen crashed out of the Rally Mexico at the end of the opening day. Despite completing two days of testing in the south of France recently, this still leaves him desperately short of gravel mileage heading into round three of the World Rally Championship.

Furthermore, the specialised gravel surface that Raikkonen will be competing on in Jordan – with its hard base and sandy covering – is completely unlike anything he has seen before.

“In terms of what we have done so far, this is probably the least familiar surface,” said Raikkonen. “I don’t really know what to expect, but I’m sure it’s going to be quite a tough challenge. It will really be a question of seeing where we are compared to everyone else and then steadily trying to reduce that gap. I just need more time in the car, so the main thing is going to be getting to the end.”

The event is a brand new one for Raikkonen’s co-driver, Kaj Lindstrom, as well. However, Lindstrom is convinced that Raikkonen’s increasing familiarity with pace notes will serve him well. “It’s really coming now,” said Tommi Makinen’s former navigator. “What happened in Mexico was nothing to do with the notes. In Jordan, we’re going to continue the work that we’ve started and make sure we get to the end. I think Kimi’s speed in a rally car is there for everyone to see.”