Sport : F1

RAIKKONEN RALLY RETURN RULED OUT

24th May 2012, 06:38pm

Kimi Raikkonen: Can't rally under contract

Kimi Raikkonen: Can't rally under contract

Lotus team principal Eric Boullier has dismissed any notion of Kimi Raikkonen making a one-off return to rallying.

Raikkonen quit Formula One at the end of 2009 and spent two years fulfilling an ambition by competing in the World Rally Championship, albeit with limited success.

That resulted in the 2007 world champion returning to F1 this season, signing up with Lotus in tandem with Romain Grosjean.

Raikkonen, however, recently remarked he would love to take part in his home rally in Finland one more time.

Boullier, though, has confirmed such a possibility is not going to happen.

The Frenchman said: "There was a journalist who asked him if he loves rally - yes. Would you love to do rally again? - yes. Would you love to do your home rally? - yes.

"There was nothing else, but contractually he cannot do it. End of story."

Notably, Lotus - known as Renault last year - allowed Robert Kubica to compete in a rally event prior to the start of the campaign.

The Pole, however, was involved in a horrendous accident which resulted in him requiring several operations, and it is almost certain he will never return to F1 again.

Recalling that, Boullier added: "Obviously there is a trauma here after 2011.

"But we can't have a contract with the drivers that has a clause that allows them to take any risk because they are so valuable to the team.

"So, rallying, skiing, whatever you want. It is not allowed."

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