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Kimi to miss Rally Australia

Category: Motorsports Published Date Hits: 147

Kimi Raikkonen will reportedly not be making a presence at Rally Australia this year, despite having originally intended to be part of the rally. Going under the term "logistical and organisational difficulties", the lack of substantial sponsorship has meant that Raikkonen will not be able to go to Australia. Major sponsors like Red Bull have scaled back their level of involvement with the sport due to cost cutting and this has seen some fallout on participation.

Especially where it involves long haul movements, smaller teams and privateers are having a tough time meeting the costs. Last year Raikkonen contested 12 rounds, missing only Rally New Zealand during the first half of the year, but also competed on some smaller regional rallies as tests. This season he will have entered nine world championship rallies, with a best result so far of sixth in Jordan (compared with fifth in Turkey last year).

After missing Australia, Raikkonen will compete in France, Spain and Great Britain: all rallies that he has entered before (although he was forced to miss the Catalunya round last year following a shakedown accident).

The 31-year-old Finn is yet to finalise his plans for next season, but has not ruled out the possibility of a full WRC campaign in 2012. Other possibilities in the frame include a return to Formula One or an extended NASCAR programme. He is currently eighth in the drivers' rankings.