Kimi Raikkonen Jerez test notes 2008-12-09

Kimi's return

Jerez de la Frontera, 9th December - Exactly one month after Kimi Raikkonen was on a race track for the last time, he came back today. The last time the Finn sat behind the wheel of a Formula 1 single-seater was on 9th November, when he joined Felipe for several laps at the Ferrari World Finals at Mugello. Today Kimi started the second test session after the Formula One season, held at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Southern Spain, where five teams are participating: Toro Rosso, McLaren, BMW, Renault and Williams.

The Finnish driver, behind the wheel of a F2008 with less downforce, to simulate the situation foreseen by the technical rules for the 2009 season, went out on the track just after 9am. He didn't drive too many laps, because the weather was not really good and, after 3pm, the track was wet, but also because the mileage at the end of the season is limited. The Team mainly worked on the best possible set up with the slicks and on the engine, which has to run further in the upcoming season. Kimi drove 48 laps, the fastest in a time of 1.20.261.

"I'm glad to be back on the track," Kimi said at the end of the day. "Shame that there was so much rain in the afternoon, because it would have been useful to test some situations we had problems with during the last season. It shouldn't rain tomorrow and we'll drive a bit more."

-credit: ferrari