RÄIKKÖNEN's YEAR 2010 (VM paper edition)

Mikko Hirvonen (MH) and Jari-Matti Latvala (J-ML) comment on how they think Kimi will do this year rally by rally:

1/13: Sweden's WRC-rally
10.-14.2.
Driving surface: ice/snow

MH:
- Sweden is good and maybe even the best possible place for Kimi to start his WRC-season. The roads are fast and the snow benches forgive small errors - especially if there is enough of snow on the stage.
- 4-5 minutes behind the lead. (5th in 2008)

J-ML:
- Sweden will be a good start for Kimi. He will already have a fresh experience from Arctic rally. But Kimi has to go fast if he is going to do well. If he is about 1,0-1,5 seconds per kilometer behind the lead it is a very good result.
- 6 minutes behind the lead. (6th in 2008)

2/13: Mexico's WRC-rally
3.-7.3.
Driving surface: gravel

MH:
- Mexico might be the most difficult race for Kimi. If he dares to go fast, controls his car and makes it to the finish line without making mistakes it's a great result for a newbie.
- 6 minutes behind the lead. (6th in 2008)

J-ML:
- Mexico is probably the most difficult rally for Kimi. You need experience there.
- 10 minutes behind the lead. (7th in 2008)

3/13: Jordania's WRC-rally
31.3-4.4
Driving surface: gravel

MH:
- Jordania might suit Kimi well because of the good grip. If his setups are in order you just brake and turn into the corner on Jordania's roads, that's why he could get very close to the lead there.
- 4 minutes behind the lead. (3rd in 2008)

J-ML:
- The route could be difficult for Kimi because of the way the tyres get worn out.
- 10-12 minutes behind the lead (5th in 2008)

4/13: Turkey's WRC-rally
14.-18.4
Driving surface: gravel

MH:
- Because the area is new to everyone it also makes Kimi's chances better.
- 4 minutes behind the lead (8th in 2008)

J-ML:
- Kimi is probably in a good speed in Turkey and gets closer to the lead.
- 8 minutes behind the lead (8th in 2008)

5/13: New Zealand's WRC-rally
5.-9.5
Driving surface: gravel

MH:
- If Kimi drives the rally I'm sure he will enjoy the experience.
- 4 minutes behind the lead (6th in 2008)

J-ML:
- If Kimi drives the rally I'm sure he will enjoy the experience.
- 10 minutes behind the lead (10th in 2008)

6/13: Portugal's WRC-rally
27.-20.5.
Driving surface: gravel

MH:
- I think that by Portugal Kimi has learned how to drive on gravel.
- 3-4 minutes behind the lead (5th in 2009)

J-ML:
- This could be a very difficult race for Kimi. Kimi has a top co-driver and his significance will be highlighted in Portugal.
- 10 minutes behind the lead (7th in 2009)

7/13: Bulgaria's WRC-rally
7.-10.7
Driving surface: tarmac

MH:
- I expect a good result from Kimi in Bulgaria because we are all on the same line (new race).
- 4 minutes behind the lead (4th)

J-ML:
- Bulgaria could be one of the best races for Kimi because nobody has any earlier experience from there and I'm sure Kimi drives well on tarmac.
- 5 minutes behind the lead (5th)

8/13: Finland's WRC-rally
29.-31.7
Driving surface: gravel

MH:
- Finland's rally can be difficult for Kimi although he has some experience from it. It's difficult to drive a WRC-car on Mid-Finland's superfast gravel roads really fast. The car has to be perfectly set-up and he has to be able to trust it 100%, otherwise the difference to the lead grows by minutes.
- 5 minutes behind the lead (7th in 2009)

J-ML:
- Finland's rally will be Kimi's second but it's not easy to succeed in Mid-Finland with a WRC-car.
- 6 minutes behind the lead (8th in 2009)

9/13: Germany's WRC-rally
18.-22.8
Driving surface: tarmac

MH:
- Second tarmac-rally for Kimi. If it doesn't rain the result can be good but if it rains it's interesting to see how Kimi controls the constant traction changes.
- 4 minutes behind the lead (6th in 2008)

J-ML:
- It could be a difficult race for Kimi although the surface is tarmac. Audi's DTM-champion Mattias Ekström drove there a couple of years ago and he was in great troubles because of the constantly changing traction.
- 9 minutes behind the lead (13th in 2008)

10/13: Japan's WRC-rally
8.-12.9
Driving surface: gravel

MH:
- Japan might be the best gravel rally of the season for Kimi. When he has got some experience I believe that he will make a good result there.
- 4-5 minutes behind the lead (5th in 2008)

J-ML:
- Japan might be a good race for Kimi. Although he has no experience of this race it doesn't necessarily matter much.
- 7 minutes behind the lead (7th in 2008)

11/13: France WRC-rally
29.9.-3.10
Driving surface: tarmac

MH:
- This race could be the best race of the season for Kimi. He already has experience in driving and making pace notes so he could even drive for the podium.
- 2-3 minutes behind the lead (podium)

J-ML:
- Kimi will improve here after Germany's race but he will still be minutes behind the lead.
- 9 minutes behind the lead

12/13: Spain's WRC-rally
20.-24.10
Driving surface: tarmac

MH:
- I believe that Kimi feels at home on Catalonia's tarmac where he can drive on the line and boldly cut.
- 2-3 minutes behind the lead (he will fight for the podium)

J-ML:
- Last year the stage was precisely the same as it was the year before and if this trend continues it will bring difficulties for Kimi because others know the stage almost by memory.
- 8 minutes behind the lead (8th in 2009)

13/13: Britain's WRC-rally
10.-14.11
Driving surface: gravel

MH:
- Wales can be more difficult for Kimi because here you need experience in order to succeed.
- 6 minutes behind the lead (5th in 2009)

J-ML:
- Because of the difficult driving conditions I predict that Wales isn't any easy rally for Kimi. It's more than slippery.
- 8 minutes behind the lead (7th in 2009)

source:KR Forum