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RAIKKONEN SET FOR NASCAR START

RAIKKONEN SET FOR NASCAR START

By Timothy Neal

Recently retired Formula 1 Champion Kimi Raikkonen will make his return to racing in the American NASCAR Cup Series at Watkins Glen in August.

The 42-year-old will drive a Team Trackhouse Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the premier stock car series, returning to the NASCAR fold after over a decade away.

Back in the early 2010s Raikkonen tried his hand at NASCAR racing, appearing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2011 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Raikkonen is best known for his record 349 Formula starts, in which he amassed 21 wins, 103 podiums and a championship in 2007. The Finn retired at the end of 2021, finishing his F1 career with Alfa Romeo.

“I wasn’t looking to race again, but Justin (Marks) came to my home in Switzerland and convinced me how serious he was about putting together a top-notch program,” Raikkonen said.

“This will be fun, but it’s something I will take very seriously. I know how competitive the NASCAR Cup Series is and it will be a big challenge.”

Team Trackhouse – owned by ex-racer Justin Marks and popstar Pitbull – is intent on recruiting big name drivers from outside NASCAR to race stock cars as part of an initiative called ‘PROJECT91’.

Raikkonen is the first marquee signing of many, if Marks gets his way.

“I’m really excited to launch this year with Kimi Raikkonen,” Marks said.

“Obviously, the 2007 F1 World Champion and the most experienced F1 driver in history, he’ll really kind of help set this program off.

“I’m looking forward to it. I’m bullish in our ability to be able to track the global stars of motorsport and do something really special under the Trackhouse brand with PROJECT91.”

“I think that he’s going to perform really, really well. The program is going to be first class.

“He’s going to have a real opportunity to go out there and compete. This isn’t just a PR stunt. The passion I have is fuelled by the vision of someone coming in and winning.”

While Marks is keen to expand his new project, Raikkonen is the only confirmed PROJECT91 entry for 2022.

Raikkonen will take to the Watkins Glen road course on August 21 for the 25th round of the NASCAR Cup Series season.

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