Monday 17th August 2009

Fiat And VW To Enter WRC In 2010?

Kimi Raikkonen tipped to lead Fiat's World Rally assault

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Raikkonen made his WRC debut in July

F1 star Kimi Raikkonen's rumoured switch to rallying could happen as early as next year, as latest reports appear to confirm that both Fiat and Volkswagen will enter the 2010 World Rally Championship.

The Financial Times reports this morning that Neil Duncanson - chairman of the TV company North One, which owns the WRC series - has confirmed that two new manufacturers are getting ready to replace Subaru and Suzuki, who pulled out at the end of last year.

Could it mark the end of his F1 career?

If the two manufacturers are Fiat and VW as reported, it is possible that Fiat's entry may provide Ferrari with a means to terminate Kimi's F1 contract a year early to make way for Fernando Alonso - who has reportedly been given a five-year £175m contract to drive for Ferrari from 2010.

Raikkonen's exit from F1 would clearly be eased if the Fiat group were to offer him a factory drive in WRC instead. The Finnish driver recently entered (and crashed out of) Rally Finland at the wheel of a S2000 rally-spec Grande Punto. Despite his accident, his debut performance was widely praised within the WRC world.

Footage of Raikkonen's spectacular end to his WRC debut is below. 'It was fun, and nobody got hurt', the notoriously deadpan Finn said moments after the incident.

[Adamantium]

I wouldnt hold my breath on this one, but who knows.

[LukeBird]

Not sure on the Kimi story, would he really be bumped out of the Ferrari team for Alonso?

Anyhoo, good new for WRC on the fact there will be a few manufacturers next year!

[bishbash]

You can tell he's been in Forumla 1 too long.

He rolls the car, and what's the first thing he does?
Takes his helmet off and replaces it with a Ferrari & sponsors cap.

[patmahe]

Would inject some life back into WRC if it happened, but I have my doubts.

[leon9191]

I wonder what VW would use a golf or a sirocco?

[Northern-Loop]

This would be great news!

[Merry]

Its funny, but i'm finding a new found respect for Raikonnen (sp?). It appears he likes competing in all forms of motorsport, the sign of true driver, in my opinion.

I bet he'd be just as happy racing bangers round a field, as a multi million pound F1 car. I kind of like that...

[Emeye]

leon9191 said:

I wonder what VW would use a golf or a sirocco?

Probably a Polo? The new S2000 cars seem to be based on smaller cars like the Fiat Grand-Punto/Renault Clio.

ETA: Found this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_2000

looks like there is already a Polo developed for S2000 regs.

Edited by Emeye on Monday 17th August 12:15

[BoRED S2upid]

From a Ferrari F1 car to a Punto. Oh dear.

[MiniMan64]

I think this is a lot more likely than a lot of people here seem to think.

Ferrari are going to have to cut back on their F1 budget in the next few years so they can easily funnel off these funds to run a FIAT rally team. FIAT could do with a bit of "youth" appeal and a bit of exposure would do the company no harm, maybe race under the Abbrath banner and generate a few more sales there.

Rakkionen clearly wants out of F1 and is not to fussed about racing there anymore and Ferrari want Alonso in so its perfect for them to switch Raikk into WRC without blowing his contract and much like Schmacher he's still part of the "team" and he's still racing at World class level. Double win for them.

As for VW I don't know but they don't do a lot of motorsport else where do they? Audi at Le Mans and that's it really. WRC seems to be shaping up to become a very "cheap" way to get some marketing on the global stage. Interesting.

[dpbird90]

Heres a better idea for VW. Instead of entering a stty Polo, let Audi make a new quattro. Simples. And as for Fiat, we'd better see something like this:

[AlpineWhite]

dpbird90 said:

Heres a better idea for VW. Instead of entering a stty Polo, let Audi make a new quattro.

Audi already have motorsport in Le Mans and DTM, entering under the VW banner would even it up a bit. Add to that, Audi don't (yet) have a car small enough to suit S2000 regs, which, as said above, seem to be aimed at Polo size cars.

[stew-S160]

Merry said:

Its funny, but i'm finding a new found respect for Raikonnen (sp?). It appears he likes competing in all forms of motorsport, the sign of true driver, in my opinion.

I bet he'd be just as happy racing bangers round a field, as a multi million pound F1 car. I kind of like that...

that's always been Kimi though. he races snowmobiles during the winter. someone said he raced under the name J.Hunt.

[kaese]

bishbash said:

You can tell he's been in Forumla 1 too long.

He rolls the car, and what's the first thing he does?
Takes his helmet off and replaces it with a Ferrari & sponsors cap.

Just what I was thinking. Either that, or he's driving with the cap on

[LCR270]

LukeBird said:

Not sure on the Kimi story, would he really be bumped out of the Ferrari team for Alonso?

Does it matter, the staggering thing for me reading that was £175m for Alonso for 5 years, now that is a headline grabber

[jamiesim]

BoRED S2upid said:

From a Ferrari F1 car to a Punto. Oh dear.

[EDLT]

LCR270 said:

LukeBird said:

Not sure on the Kimi story, would he really be bumped out of the Ferrari team for Alonso?

Does it matter, the staggering thing for me reading that was £175m for Alonso for 5 years, now that is a headline grabber

£35 million a year is a bit of a bargain, Schumacher earned nearly double that.

Back on topic:

Won't an S2000 spec car be a lot slower than a WRC car, or are they being neutered at the same time? It seems unlikely that Fiat would build a WRC spec car when the regulations are changing in 2011/12.

[BIG BAVARIAN]

bishbash said:

You can tell he's been in Forumla 1 too long.

He rolls the car, and what's the first thing he does?
Takes his helmet off and replaces it with a Ferrari & sponsors cap.

I think that may be contractual,when seen in public/interviews ,"team logo must be on display",being the most expensive part of advertising on a gp drivers body,as michael schumacher still wears the "Deutsche vermogensberatung" insignia on his cap (although retired and paid millions to do so!!) ,not to mention nikki lauda's parmalat cap (circa 1976),nigel mansell's, sunseeker GP masters cap, as his personal sponsor.

[SleeperCell]

Merry said:

Its funny, but i'm finding a new found respect for Raikonnen (sp?). It appears he likes competing in all forms of motorsport, the sign of true driver, in my opinion.

I bet he'd be just as happy racing bangers round a field, as a multi million pound F1 car. I kind of like that...

I think you're right, I also get the impression he really hates the whole media circus and constant sponsorship whoring that comes with F1 and would rather a lower profile, more laid back series like rallying where he can have more fun without all the cameras and PR shadows following him around all the time.

[patmahe]

SleeperCell said:

Merry said:

Its funny, but i'm finding a new found respect for Raikonnen (sp?). It appears he likes competing in all forms of motorsport, the sign of true driver, in my opinion.

I bet he'd be just as happy racing bangers round a field, as a multi million pound F1 car. I kind of like that...

I think you're right, I also get the impression he really hates the whole media circus and constant sponsorship whoring that comes with F1 and would rather a lower profile, more laid back series like rallying where he can have more fun without all the cameras and PR shadows following him around all the time.

Yes and I would fully respect his decision should he go, why stay at something that you don't enjoy when you have more fun options open to you. Good luck to him if he goes, I would follow his progress with interest.