Raikkonen bags Citroen drive

Raikkonen: New career

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Ex-Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen will compete for Citroen's junior team in next year's World Rally Championship.

The manufacturer said the 30-year-old Finn would compete in 12 of the 13 events in 2010 for the Red Bull-backed team.

Raikkonen, who won the Drivers' Championship with Ferrari in 2007, was bought out of his contract with the team a year early to allow for the arrival of Fernando Alonso next year.

"I always wanted to compete in rally, especially in the World Rally Championship at some point in my career," said Raikkonen.

"This is a new but very exciting challenge. For the moment we have a one-year contract and we will see how it goes for the future.

"I am really looking forward to testing and taking the start of the first rally."

Raikkonen has previous World Rally Championship experience, having competed in this year's Finnish round in a Fiat after also entering three non-championship events, but his new challenge is a big step up.

Citroen's French driver Sebastien Loeb has won the last six world rally titles and Raikkonen will have one of the most competitive cars in the C4.

The team said Raikkonen's co-driver will be compatriot Kaj Lindstrom, who partnered now-retired Tommi Makinen to four successive world titles in the 1990s.

France's rising hope Sebastien Ogier will drive the junior team's other car, while Dani Sordo will continue to partner Loeb.

Delighted team boss Olivier Quesnel remarked: "We will continue to count on Sebastien and Dani to defend our world titles in 2010.

"We will also be prolonging our association with Sebastien Ogier who showed outstanding potential this year.

"Last but not least, it is with immense joy that we welcome Kimi Raikkonen to our ranks. We are very proud he has chosen Citroen."