
Kimi Raikkonen’s attitude to the fans and media has come under fire following Rally Sweden. The former Formula 1 world champion is being criticised by the Rally Sweden organisers after he didn’t step out of the car on the ramp at the Main Square in Karlstad after the Rally, instead he just sat in the car yawning.
The organiser of Rally Sweden, Bertil Klarin, has shown extreme disapproval at Raikkonen’s attitude:
“I am convinced that Citroën people are in despair at how Raikkonen manages media and fans. I hope that their PR people come to grips with the problem directly. Otherwise, Raikkonen is not improving the World Rally Championship as everyone had hoped.”
Bertil Klarin
Deputy race organiser Johan Magnusson also expressed his disappointment:
“These people have no place in the rally. I have never encountered such before. Raikkonen hid his face from photographers and did not get out of the car even on the square. So bad that I just don’t believe it.”
Johan Magnusson
So far Kimi has not shown the attitude towards the fans and media that I discussed in my post on how the WRC is better than F1; I mentioned in that post that the way the fans can chat and mix with the drivers is one of the better things about Rallying, and I hope Raikkonen embraces this.
Raikkonen finished 30th in the Swedish Rally 37mins 47.2secs off the pace. Mikko Hirvonen won the rally. | Rally Sweden report on Autosport
