Kimi Räikkönen to make WRC debut

Finnish former Formula One champ, Kimi Räikkönen, will make his World Rally Championship (WRC) debut in his home country on July 30th, as he takes on the Neste Oil Rally Finland in an Abarth Grand Punto.

It's also the debut of the Abarth Grand Punto in the WRC - the car has taken part in other rallies before, but never as part of the WRC, the pinnacle of rallying. The Finland leg of the championship has proved massively popular this year, with 90 crews registering to take part - a record number for the competition.

Despite the rivalry between championship contenders Mikko Hirvonen and Sebastian Loeb reaching fever pitch, all eyes will be on Räikkönen in Finland, who'll be driving with co-pilot Kaj Lindstrom. Simon Long of ISC, the company that owns the WRC's commercial rights, said: "I've said before that the WRC is built on heroes and iconic figures - and they don't come any bigger than Kimi Räikkönen. It's superb news for the Championship and hugely exciting that he'll be competing at Rally Finland."

Mark Nichol