OCTETO RACING TEAM

Na semana passada postei esta ( link aqui ) ótima entrevista de Kimi para uma revista japonesa, dada este mês de maio e que Luviceman vem gentilmente traduzindo. Hoje, chego com o que Mark Slade, engenheiro de corrida de Räikkönen, além de duas declarações, uma de Alan Parmane (diretor de operações de pista da Lotus) e de Benoit Nogier, ex-cehfe de equipe de Kimi no WRC. Meus comentários estão no final. Q: Do you think current Kimi is different than he was in McLaren?  "About the attitude to engineers is the same. But in the paddock, I think he relaxes a bit than before, and contacting us outside of the circuit has increased."  Q: How about as a driver?  "He is just awesome. He comprehends what is happening then, what he is needing, how he is wanting, and why. About this splendid skill/ability, Kimi is one of the best than other drivers who I know. His feedback is the best. This hasn't changed ever. As a test driver, he is the best driver than others ...

Solberg & Raikkonen aim to finish the season on a high note In WRC Rally Great-Britain Saturday 5 November 2011 - 12h10, by Olivier Ferret Three Citroën DS3 WRCs prepared by Citroën Racing Technologies will be entered for the last round of the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship. Petter Solberg and Chris Patterson (Petter Solberg World Rally Team), Kimi Räikkönen and Kaj Lindström and Peter van Merksteijn Jr and Erwin Mombaerts (Van Merksteijn Motorsport) all have the same objective in Rally Great Britain – finish in the season on a high note. Preparation for Rally Great Britain was in two phases for the Citroën DS3 WRC drivers. This week, Kimi Räikkönen and Peter van Merksteijn Junior have spent two days on a test track in the south of France. “They each covered 150 kilometers,” says Benoît Nogier, the Citroën Racing Technologies director. “The stage chosen was pretty wet, ideal for an event as specific as the one awaiting us in Wales. Kimi and Peter found the DS3 WRC’s setup suited...

Kimi’s exit caused by fuel leak "Kimi took the decision to keep the car for the next rally" Saturday 22 October 2011 - 15h01, by www.wrc.com Citroen Racing Technologies’ boss Benoit Nogier has confirmed that a fuel leak caused Kimi Raikkonen’s retirement from RallyRACC-Rally de Espana on Friday morning. Raikkonen, Formula One world champion in 2007, was fighting back from the time lost on the dust-coated opening stage when he stopped on stage three. “We had a problem with a fuel leak and he had to stop in the stage,” said Nogier. “It was a very, very small leak but we lost a lot of fuel. It was something almost invisible and it was really difficult to find what the problem was.” Nogier, who said a full analysis of the fuel leak problem would take place in order to establish the precise cause, confirmed Raikkonen’s Citroen DS3 WRC had briefly caught fire although there was little damage as a result of this. Raikkonen elected not to restart under SupeRally rules this morning, e...

Raikkonen tipped to shine on home rally Kimi Raikkonen has been tipped for a strong result on Neste Oil Rally Finland, which gets underway with the first of 22 special stages on Thursday evening (July 28). The ex-Formula One world champion is tackling the event for a third time this season and Benoit Nogier, whose Citroen Racing Technologies operation runs Raikkonen’s ICE 1 Racing Citroen DS3 WRC, has high hopes for the Finn. “Kimi loves his country and his rally,” said Nogier. “He really enjoyed his two-day test and he got the car to handle to his liking. He has a logical approach. He was his usual self, did not get excited and kept his unflappable calm. We hope he’ll drive a consistent race and close the gap to the frontrunners.” Nogier explained that Raikkonen and fellow Citroen Racing Technologies driver Petter Solberg tested on roads similar to those found on this week’s World Rally Championship counter. “There was a combination of humps and wide, quick sections,” said Nogier. “Ou...

Raikkonen backed for solid Acropolis By David Evans Kimi Raikkonen's co-driver Kaj Lindtsrom is confident the Finn's improvement on the stages will continue on this week's Acropolis Rally, despite a two-month lay-off since his last outing. Raikkonen's last event was the Jordan Rally, where he finished sixth, just missing out on equaling his best ever WRC result in his Citroen DS3 WRC. Since the Middle East event, Raikkonen has had just one day of testing in the Citroen - a day spent close to Marseille in France last week. Lindstrom said: "The test was a good day, not just to improve the feeling in the car but also to test a few [set-up] things for Greece. There were no problems [getting back in the car after two months away] because Kimi felt comfortable straight away and found the feeling. The road was rough and loose for the test, a bit like what I remember Greece to be, but it's a long time since I was there." This week's Acropolis will be Raikkonen...

Nogier impressed by Raikkonen improvement Kimi Raikkonen's performance on day two of Rally Sweden compared favourably to Sebastien Loeb, according to Benoit Nogier, the man responsible for managing Raikkonen's ICE 1 Racing team Raikkonen is seventh, one place behind Sebastien Loeb, in the overall standings after 15 stages. Nogier revealed that he even sent Loeb’s split times to the ex-Formula One world champion on Saturday afternoon so the Finn could compare his performance with the seven-time WRC title winner. “We are very happy because it is the first time I sent him the split times to the car compared to Sebastien Loeb so it is good news,” Nogier said. “It was very interesting, especially this afternoon because he improved himself and was five-tenths of a second per kilometre [slower than] Loeb, which we are pleased with.” When asked to explain Raikkonen’s increased pace, Nogier said: “It’s the second time for Kimi here in Sweden and we have already seen yesterday it was muc...

Uma pequena análise de Benoit Ogier, chefe da Ice 1 (que foi chefe da Citroën Junior Team) sobre o ano de 2010 de Kimi Räikkönen e o que esperar para este ano. Dica: Iceman1 Beijinhos, Ludy

Raikkonen tipped for top six in Sweden Kimi Raikkonen's team manager has tipped the ex-Formula One world champion to challenge for a top six finish on Rally Sweden next week. Benoit Nogier, who will oversee the ICE 1 Racing operation on 10 rounds of the World Rally Championship, believes the Finn can shine on the snow-coated Swedish stages. “I expect him to be in the battle - not for the podium but for the points,” said Nogier. “I think a top six finish for Kimi in Sweden is something we can expect and I hope he will be at this level on Friday, to expect this result on Sunday.” Raikkonen, who got his first taste of Citroen’s new DS3 WRC during a test in Sweden last weekend, finished 10th in the final WRC drivers’ standings in 2010. Nogier said he was delighted when Raikkonen confirmed he would be returning for a second season in the WRC. “It was very important [he has come back] because with Kimi we had the worst part with him last year, it was his first season in rally,” said Nogi...

Fonte: Autosport/Agradecimento: Sleenster Como eu havia comentado ontem na notícia que postei do wrc.com, eles erraram no texto, os ralis em que Kimi não correrá este ano são México, Argentina e Itália (Sardínia). Mas o chefe de equipe de Kimi (que era da Citroën Junior e agora será na Ice 1 Racing) disse que ele pode correr todos, se quiser. Ele também falou que Räikkönen está muito motivado e que tinha certeza que mesmo com os momentos difíceis do final do ano (a morte de Matti), ele tinha certeza que Kimi não deixaria o rally. O mesmo disse Olivier Quesnel, o chefe da Citroën no WRC, que inclusive enfatizou que Kimi tem dinheiro, mas "não pode tirá-lo de seu bolso para que ele corra todos os ralis". hahaha... Eu gosto da forma como Nogier e Quesnel falam de Kimi. Eles não parecem fazer tipo, ou mentir opiniões. Pelo menos é a impressão que tenho!!! Pelo menos até agora também né?! So people, o mais importante da notícia acima é que Kimi vai treinar com o DS3 WRC pela prime...

Kimi admite dificuldades em seu 1º ano no Mundial “Nossa temporada não foi inteiramente dentro do planejado”, admite o finlandês Faltando apenas mais uma etapa para o fim de sua primeira temporada do Mundial de Rali, Kimi Raikkonen ocupa apenas a décima posição no campeonato e sofreu diversos acidentes, inclusive durante um shakedown, na etapa da Espanha. O finlandês admite que a experiência tem sido difícil até o momento, mas que ele já imaginava que passaria por este tipo de aprendizado. "Nossa temporada não foi inteiramente dentro do planejado, mas, na verdade, isso é o que eu esperava. É completamente normal quando você está aprendendo algo tão novo", disse o piloto da Citroën. O chefe de equipe de Raikkonen, Benoit Nogier, concorda que já se imaginava que Raikkonen teria que passar por um período de adaptação e acredita que ele possa crescer caso continue a competir no rali. "Ele ainda está aprendendo. Não esqueça que este é o primeiro ano dele e ele ainda...

No pressure on Raikkonen to decide future Kimi Raikkonen is under no pressure to make a decision about his future, according to Citroen Junior Team boss Benoit Nogier. Nogier told French radio station RMC: "At the moment there is no commitment from Kimi [Raikkonen] for next year. Up to now he has shown appreciation for what he is doing and the desire to continue. "He is the master of his destiny so it's up to him to tell us if he wants to be with us next year or not. I will be very happy to welcome him if he wants to continue." Raikkonen has a one year deal with Citroen in the World Rally Championship and has recently been linked with a return to Formula One after Renault recently approached him. The 2007 F1 world champion had a rather fraught Rallye de France at the weekend when he went off twice on day two and retired. The Citroen Junior Team elected not to compete under superally regulations for the final leg, deciding instead to preserve the car for Spain. Raikko...

WRC: Citroën deseja permanência de Raikkonen em 2011, afirma dirigente Benoit Nogier, chefe de equipe da Citroën Junior, disse que ficaria muito feliz se Kimi Raikkonen ficasse no time em 2011. No entanto, o dirigente espera uma decisão definitiva do nórdico Se depender da Citroën, Kimi Raikkonen continua no WRC em 2011. Apesar do finlandês ter flertado com a Renault, Benoit Nogier, chefe de equipe da Citroën Junior, demonstrou vontade em manter o campeão de F1 em 2007 para a próxima temporada. “Ele é o dono do seu destino, então, que ele nos diga se quer ficar conosco na próxima temporada ou não. Ficarei muito feliz em recebê-lo se ele quiser continuar”, declarou Nogier. Atualmente Kimi ocupa a décima colocação do Mundial em sua estreia na categoria. Quanto ao futuro do finlandês na equipe francesa, Benoit prefere adotar a cautela. “No momento, não há nenhum compromisso de Kimi para o próximo ano”, declarou à rádio gaulesa RMC. “Até agora, ele demonstrou apreço pelo que tem feito e de...

Citroën Junior Team off to a solid start Rallye de France - Day 1 Friday 1 October 2010 - 23h50, by Franck Drui With Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia in third followed by Kimi Räikkönen and Kaj Lindström in seventh, the Citroën Junior Team has shown its competitiveness on the opening day of the Rallye de France–Alsace. The French crew are aiming for a podium while the Finns are brilliantly placed just behind the top six drivers in the World Rally Championship. After a rainy but extremely popular ceremonial start at the Place Kléber in Strasbourg yesterday evening, the real action on the Rallye de France–Alsace got underway this morning. The opening day of eight special stages took the WRC crews to Colmar and then Mulhouse for 145.86 competitive kilometres to the south of the region. While the skies stayed clear throughout the morning, overnight rain meant that the roads were still damp. Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia set off from Strasbourg second on the road, and they s...

Dani Sordo and Diego Vallejo fought among the leaders from the first stage to the last, before finishing fourth overall on the Rally Japan in their Citroën Junior Team C4 WRC. Kimi Räikkönen and Kaj Lindström were forced to retire on the final day. Dani Sordo started fourth this morning and then got past Mikko Hirvonen on the opening loop of stages, before being forced to concede the final podium place to Jari-Matti Latvala in Naekawa. “We gave away a lot of time in the slower places there,” reported the frustrated Spaniard. “I think I lost all my chances of winning the rally during the two passes over that particular stage.” In fact, at the end of SS23, Dani Sordo lay 33.7 seconds behind the leader Sébastien Ogier, with 28 of those seconds lost in the two passes over the Naekawa stage. Dani was determined to attack again in Sunagawa 2 (SS24) and just missed out on fastest time by 0.6 seconds. The two final stages allowed the Citroën Junior Team driver to consolidate his excellent four...

Dani Sordo in the fight for victory Dani Sordo and Diego Vallejo enjoyed an excellent second day over the Hokkaido stages in Japan. Thanks to two fastest stage times, the Citroën Junior Team’s Spanish crew got closer to the lead. They will start the final sprint tomorrow just 15 seconds from the leader. Increasing their pace from the first day, Kimi Räikkönen and Kaj Lindström gained two places to climb to eighth overall. Dani Sordo and Kimi Räikkönen checked out of parc fermé this morning occupying fifth and 10th places respectively. On the first stage of the day, Dani Sordo showed himself to be instantly comfortable with a second-fastest time. He continued his progress by setting third-fastest time on the 33.76-kilometre Kamuycep 1 stage (SS12) and then he went fastest of all on Kina 1 (SS13). In just one loop of stages, Dani had gained 22.3 seconds to close to within less than 15 seconds of the leader. “The car feels very competitive this morning,” commented Dani. “The engineers h...

Citroen Junior Team – Rally Japan 2010 Day 1 At the end of the opening day of the Rally Japan, the Citroën Junior Team has both of its C4 WRCs in the top 10. After an excellent start to the rally, Dani Sordo and Diego Vallejo are fifth overall, just over 30 seconds behind the leaders. Kimi Räikkönen and Kaj Lindström claim 10th, having made solid progress all day. After some great performances on Thursday’s first two runs over the superspecial stages, Dani Sordo got stuck straight into the fight for first place throughout the opening loop of stages that took place this morning to the south of the island of Hokkaido. “The roads are very nice, with some extremely quick and narrow sections,” he reported. “I experienced a little bit of understeer on the car and so I suddenly found myself losing some time in the twisty bits of the following stage. The second loop is not going to be any easier, but we need to keep on pushing hard to stay with the lead group.” After more than a month without ...

WRC: Räikkönen not getting carried away after impressive Rallye Deutschland Citroën Junior Team driver Kimi Räikkönen says his impressive display in last month's Rallye Deutschland doesn't alter his goals for the upcoming Rally Japan, with the 2007 Formula One World Champion making the completion of the event his main target. Räikkönen netted seventh place in Germany, the second highest finish of his fledgling rally career, setting his maiden fastest stage time along the way. But the Finn doesn't feel ready to switch his focus to a points finish when the championship arrives in Japan next weekend, preferring a wait and see approach as he continues to get to grips with WRC machinery. “My targets are exactly the same,” said Räikkönen. “From the first few stages in Japan we will be able to see the pace we can run at. But once more the main thing will be to be there at the end of the rally. “We’ve not been testing since we finished the Rallye Deutschland. When we get to Japan, ...

The boss is praising Kimi's heroic deed: A real spirit-lifter! 23.08.2010 10:02 Kimi Räikkönen put strongly his name in rally's history books on Sunday. He set the fastest time on the last stage Circus Maximus. - We are all pleased over Kimi's fastest stage time. It was a real spirit-lifter! Benoit Nogier said in Citroen's newsletter. Räikkönen was pleased himself too. - In general this was once again one more really positive experience. And winning the super stage was of course great too, Kimi commented. Lindström believes that the duo is going into the right direction. - We are on the right way here. We improve rally by rally but the hill we are climbing up is still very steep, he reminded. He was especially happy over the notes that worked. - The notes were really good. When thinking that we were here for the first time we can be really pleased. And winning a super stage is something that is worth celebrating! Kalle Takala Fonte: Ilta-Sanomat/Dica: Kriss/Tradução par...

KIMI'S WILL TO LEARN PLEASES THE TEAM MANAGER Turun Sanomat 6.7 2010 23:31:09 Citroen's Junior Team will continue in WRC next year also so it wouldn't be any big wonder if Kimi Räikkönen would stay with the gang. Team manager Benoit Nogier praises that Räikkönen went to rally with an honourable attitude. – Kimi is aware of his level and completely understands that he has to improve. He has to learn to know everything and it succeeds only through experience. All Kimi lacks is experience. He can be very fast but when he doesn't have experience he easily takes risks without even realising it since one wouldn't think they would be risks. Only experience helps, not anyone's advice. What kind of a rally driver is Räikkönen at the moment? – In the beginning Kimi let the car slide on gravel. The topdrivers take the corners more straightly and save time. Maybe Kimi is driving in the old Finnish style but that style isn't good anymore. You lose a lot of grip and time ...

Dando continuação à matéria da AutoSprint postada ontem aqui no Octeto, hoje trago as partes onde pessoas que trabalham com Kimi no rally falam sobre ele e sua adaptação à nova categoria. Os textos foram traduzidos por Whatever e Tania, ambos do Fórum Oficial de Kimi Räikkönen. Kaj Lindstrom Raikkonen’s co-driver He is more secure now One that has run for two World Championships (2002 and 2003) beside Tommy Makinen, winning Montecarlo’s Rally, should be satisfied. Instead, Kaj Lindstrom is facing the adventure beside Raikkonen with beginner’s enthusiasm. The 41 years-old is an expert after 20 rally seasons. What have you and Kimi have said to each other, before and after the last super special, in the Lanterna Rally? “Before, we were talking about pushing and trying to keep Ogier behind us. Later we said to ourselves that we were to slow. All here. We ruined the front-left and the rear-left wheels in the penultimate stage, that long one: signs of battle. It was a great challenge, and ...