Justus Räikkönen is going to seek success in the upcoming Rally Championship season.
Justus Räikkönen is the second driver of Secto Automotive’s Labs. Kristoffer Kapatsoris / TR3 Media
Although Justus Räikkönen is only 17 years old, he is in a special position.
“Team mate” Heikki Kovalainen is even more inexperienced.
It’s relative, of course. The 41-year-old and F1 series competition winner is significantly more experienced as a racing driver than the young Räikkö. Kovalainen has also driven rallies longer.
But from Finland’s demanding gravel roads, Räikkösen has more experience in the car trade.
– You still can’t really teach with these Nazis, Räikkönen acknowledges modestly.
– After all, I don’t have experience in rally driving either, only two years.
A unique Peugeot
Last year, Justus Räikkönen participated in the Finland World Cup Rally. Vesa Pöppönen / AOP
Kovalainen and Räikkönen in the same team.
This was the wet daydream of Finnish F1 fans a good ten years ago. Justus’ uncle Kimi Raikkonen drove in formula one at the same time as Kovalainen in the seasons 2007–2009 and 2012.
Secto Automotive Labs is thinking of two interesting car fleets in the upcoming Rally Championship season.
Heikki Kovalainen and map reader compete in the SM1 class Janni Hussi. Justus Räikkönen and Mikael Korhonen.
Räikkönen, making his debut in the SM3 class, drives a familiar Peugeot 208 Rally4 car. With it, he participated in the Finnish World Rally Championship in August as the youngest driver in the history of the competition.
– At least for now Boss is the only one of its kind in Finland. Let’s go and drive a wedge among the Fords that dominate the series, Räikkönen plans.
The goals were also clarified with the help of close friends.
– I myself set myself the goal of getting into the top five, but so many people have talked about the podium places, so let’s take them in pursuit. What’s the point in humiliating, Räikkönen states.
In addition to the SM series, the intention is to drive some international rallies. We will hear more about them later.
– We will drive the Finnish World Cup Rally. Doesn’t that also count as an international competition? Räikkönen laughs.
Advice is shared
Räikkönen therefore does not feel that he has enough authority to teach Kovalainen.
– Maybe we can both teach each other. We both certainly have a lot to give, something that will be useful to the other, Räikkönen plans.
Kovalainen agrees.
– We can, for example, compare notes among ourselves, although of course we cannot compare them directly as a result of driving in different classes. I’d be happy to hear if Justus has something to say.
Kovalainen himself promises to help his young teammate by sharing his own experiences.
– Although rallying is relatively new to me, I have of course driven some kind of car over the years. I also have a lot of experience and insight in this field, for example in getting through race weekends. I will gladly tell Justus everything I know, I have no reason to hide anything, Kovalainen promises.
The 2023 Rally Championship season starts in Rovaniemi on January 12-14. day on the Arctic Lapland Rally, better known to many as the Tunturi rally.