Kimi Räikkönen will draw on experience this weekend – even though Rally Finland is a first for the former Formula One champion.
The Finn's home race will be only his seventh WRC competition, but, while Kimi is still a newcomer to the world of rally driving, Räikkönen recalls his time as a child when he used to watch the event on television.
"Rally Finland is something that I grew up watching when I was small, so it feels very special for me to be competing here now," he said.
Not only that but he will also have the considerable experience of co-driver Kaj Lindstrom in the seat next to him. Lindstrom is tackling Rally Finland for an 11th time.
"I'm really looking forward to it," continued Kimi, who achieved a fifth place in Rally Turkey in April – his highest finish to date.
"It's so exciting to drive the car on these roads, and it's certainly a very different experience to what I have been used to in Formula One.
"Although it sounds strange, Finland is probably the closest a gravel rally gets to being on asphalt. Some of the roads are really fast and smooth – others are twisty and bumpier.
"That's what I really like about rallying – everything is so varied, even during the course of just one rally. There's no way that you can memorise the route like you would on a race track, so instead you have to concentrate on the pace notes.
"A rally car isn't as fast as a Formula One car, but, when you are flat-out between the trees, believe me, it feels just as quick!"
Go to our event page for more information on this weekend's rally, while, for all the latest news from Jyväskylä, visit www.wrc.com.
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