Raikkonen to take on bike rider Blazusiak

18th May 2010

By Richard Rodgers

Kimi Raikkonen will take on extreme endurance bike rider Taddy Blazusiak on a 10-kilometre all-gravel course in Austria next month.

While Raikkonen will be at the wheel of his regular Citroen C4 WRC, Blazusiak will have to make do with his two-stroke KTM motorbike.

The showdown on June 5 is part of the build-up to Erzbergrodeo XVI, which is backed by Raikkonen’s sponsor Red Bull and claims to be the world’s largest off-road event for motorbikes. The main attraction is the Red Bull Hare Scramble, which is contested by 500 riders including Pole Blazusiak, who has won it three times in the past.

Ex-Grand Prix driver Raikkonen will be first to tackle the course, known as the ‘Iron Giant’, before Blazusiak takes his turn on board a KTM 250 EXC, which can top 140kph.

Organiser Karl Katoch said: “We are really happy that Kimi has taken up this challenge with enthusiasm. Our spectators will have the outstanding possibility to witness the ultimate comparison of a high-tech rally car versus the ultralight and powerful enduro motorcycle.”