Raikkonen expects easier ride in Mexico
14th February 2010Citroen Junior Team driver Kimi Raikkonen expects to have an easier ride on Rally Mexico, the next round of his 12-event programme.
“I’m looking forward to getting onto gravel in Mexico: it should be a little bit easier for us as the surface should be more consistent,” he said. “In Sweden the grip was changing all the time, but I expect that to be less of a problem in Mexico.”
The Finn improved consistently over the course of Rally Sweden, setting a sixth-fastest time on day two and posting stage times that were within the top 10 overall. A half-hour excursion into a snowbank on the opening day meant that he would otherwise have finished eighth.
By comparison, Sebastien Loeb finished ninth on his World Rally Car debut (in a Toyota Corolla WRC on the 1999 Rallye de France) having already contested four World Rally Championship events.
“Kimi has made a fantastic start,” said his co-driver Kaj Lindstrom. “Of course I was expecting him to be quick, but he exceeded even my expectations. I feel very confident for the future now.”
