Two days of testing for Räikkönen at the end of January
Kimi Räikkönen should take the wheel of an R30 on the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia on January 23 and 24.
In order to prepare for his return to Formula 1 after two years of absence, Kimi Räikkönen will drive during private tests. As the regulations require, he will have to drive a car that is at least two seasons old, so he is expected to use the R30 driven by Kubica and Petrov in 2010.
The information was published today on the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat‘s website and was later confirmed by Autosport. The purpose of these two days of testing is to allow Räikkönen to get accustomed to Pirelli tires, which he will experience this season because when he retired in 2009, Bridgestone was the sole tire supplier in F1.
Once these two days of testing are completed, Räikkönen will participate in pre-season testing; he is expected to drive for 6 days out of the 12 scheduled in Jerez and Barcelona – Romain Grosjean will drive on the other six test days. The 2007 world champion will therefore have the opportunity to drive a total of 8 days before the first race, and the team’s goal is to ensure he covers between 3500 and 4000 kilometers to be as well-prepared as possible for Melbourne on March 18.
