Kimi Raikkonen will return to the scene of his most recent Formula 1 victory as he once again tries his hand at NASCAR competition.
Raikkonen is most famous for his trophy-laden F1 career, which saw him crowned world champion in 2007 and take 21 wins over a career spanning 20 years. But the Iceman has never been afraid to try his hand at other top racing series.
Between 2009 and 2011, during his F1 hiatus, Raikkonen competed in the World Rally Championship, taking part in 21 rallies and securing one stage victory. And last year, he made his debut in the NASCAR Cup Series at Watkins Glen.
Despite being a newcomer to the series, he was running in the top 10 at one point in that race last August. But he crashed out of the race late on and sustained an injury to his wrist.
But that doesn't seem to have put him off. His second appearance in the Cup Series has been confirmed for this year, with Raikkonen set to race at the Circuit of the Americas representing Trackhouse Racing as their Project 91 driver.
"I had a fantastic time in NASCAR, said the 43-year-old Finn. "There was a lot to learn in a very short amount of time, but everyone was very helpful, the competition was a big challenge. This time I get to race on a track I am familiar with so there won't be as steep of a learning curve. I want to have fun, but also do as well as we can."
Familiar may be an understatement. Not only did Raikkonen race at COTA eight times during his F1 career, but the Austin track was also the site of his final ever race win in F1 – taking the chequered flag for Ferrari in October 2018.
What made that success so notable was that it was the Finn's first race win for more than five years. Raikkonen had raced 113 times in the gap between that victory in Texas and his 20th F1 race win, which came in the first race of the 2013 season driving for Lotus.
It was one of very few high points during his difficult second stint as a Ferrari driver, and Raikkonen marked it in his trademark blunt fashion. After thanking the team, his immediate reaction to the win over team radio was simply: "F***ing finally."
