After two years in the WRC, 2007 F1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen will return to Formula One after signing a two-year agreement with Lotus Renault GP.

By D.Darrall

Raikkonen was paid off from his contract at Ferrari a year early and in 2010 started his first ever season in the WRC in the Citroen junior team in a C4 WRC before switching to Citroen’s DS3 WRC for 2011. Co-driven by fellow Finn Kaj Lindstrom, Raikkonen finished 10th in the drivers’ championship standings on both occasions.

The highlights his 2 years in WRC included a stage win on ADAC Rallye Deutschland in 2010 and a fifth place finish on the Rally of Turkey earlier that year.

Raikkonen has said the two seasons he spent in the World Rally Championship helped him as a driver, “I’m delighted to be coming back to Formula One after a two-year break, and I’m grateful to Lotus Renault GP for offering me this opportunity. My time in the World Rally Championship has been a useful stage in my career as a driver, but I can’t deny the fact that my hunger for F1 has recently become overwhelming.”

Photo; D.Darrall

Source: WRC.com