Citroen WRC Confirms Deals With Raikkonen And Solberg

Citroen officially confirmed their program for Kimi Raikkonen and Petter Solber in the 2011 World Rally Championship season.

Citroen presented on Mondai, in Paris, the new DS3 WRC model they will try to defend their world championship they won last year in the most important rally competition on the globe. The French manufacturer took advantage of this occasion to confirm the partnerships for the 2011 WRC season with Kimi Raikkonen and Petter Solberg.

So, Raikkonen will contest in 10 of the 13 rounds of the 2011 season, confirming the rumors that hit the web lately, and will compete for the Ice 1 Racing Team. “Kimi Raikkonen has signed for 10 rallies and if all goes well, maybe more,” said Olivier Quesnel, Citroen Racing boss.

As for Solberg, we will take the start in all 13 rounds of the 2011 WRC season, but he will make the debut in Sweden only because Peter Van Merkstyn accepted not to race although he had an agreement with Citroen. “We have to thank Peter [van Merkstyn] for allowing Petter to race in Sweden as Peter has given him his car for the first round,” Qunsel added.

This situation was generated because the Fernch constructor only built four Citroen DS3 WRC for Rally Sweden: two for Sebastien Loeb and Sebastien Ogier, the factory team drivers, one for Raikkonen and one for van Merkstyn, while Solberg signed the deal with the French later.