Kimi Räikkönen, the 2007 Formula One world champion, says he believes that his fifth place on the Rally of Turkey, April 16-18, marked a turning point in his World Rally Championship campaign.
Räikkönen was one of the few drivers to steer clear of trouble on the tricky Turkish event to score his highest-ever finish in a WRC rally. It was his second consecutive points finish, following his eighth-place in Jordan at the beginning of April.
Räikkönen put in a strong performance in Turkey, even though it was only his third event on gravel in the Citroën C4 WRC. Turkey was also just the second event he has finished in the car on loose surfaces.
"It's a sign that we're going in the right direction," said the 30-year-old Finn. "In Jordan, the speed was not so good, but we finished the rally; in Turkey it was a bit better and we finished fifth. In fact, we did not do anything that was very different. It was just a question of having more time in the car and working with the pace notes. In some places I felt confident, in others less confident. But for sure, a result like this helps."
Räikkönen will miss the next round of the WRC, Rally New Zealand, but he hopes to test his Citroën Junior Team car prior to his next scheduled event, the Rally of Portugal at the end of May. |
發表於 2010-4-30 09:09 AM
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