WRC: Top rally drivers praise Ferrari F1 driver Kimi Raikkonen World Rally debut

From GMM

Sébastien Loeb has praised Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen's performance after the Finn made his World Rally Championship debut at the weekend.


Twenty-nine-year-old Raikkonen ultimately crashed out of the event with a spectacular roll into a ditch. Despite engine problems , Raikkonen was placed 15th overall when he crashed his Abarth Grande Punto S2000 on a left-hand corner, 3km from the start of the day's final stage, the 29.29km Vaarinmaja (SS19).

"I think he did really well," Frenchman Loeb, a multiple WRC champion and second overall in Finland, said.

"He was about one second per kilometre from Hanninen and the other best drivers and in Finland that is a very good performance," he added.

Rally winner Mikko Hirvonen added: "I have the same thoughts as Sébastien; I think he did really well, considering he has only ever done two rallies with pace notes. He was setting really good times."

Hirvonen's Ford teammate Jari-Matti Latvala finished Rally Finland third and said of Raikkonen: "I agree, he did really well considering his lack of experience. Okay, he went off the road, but even I had a little moment in the same place.

"It is not an easy corner, and these things can happen."

Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel meanwhile attended Rally Finland as a guest of Loeb's Citroen team and Red Bull.