Some local newspapers are reporting that Finland’s last Formula 1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen has signed a deal to race in NASCAR series in America later this year.

Well, we cannot blame him! He achieved Formula 1 world title in 2007, then he tried rallying with decent performance and is now looking for a new field to satisfy his love of speed. The Nascar deal however might conflict with his ongoing WRC career.

As you know Kimi has already signed up for eight rounds of this year’s World Rally Championship in which he drives a Citroen DS3 WRC of the junior team. He’s got a bunch of sponsors there who definitely want him to accomplish something for them! Kimi is apparently going to keep both careers for now, specially as he will start his Nascar adventure in the Truck series before he qualifies to the Sprint cup and other nationwide series.

But Kimi apparently sees his future brighter in North America.

“I’m really looking forward to get there to familiarise to the world of Nascar,” Raikkonen told the paper. “I have been following it for a long time. I know, it’s a very tough and open top racing series.

“I just love the American spirit of racing. It feels just great to get involved with that. Obviously, it will be very challenging and great fun for me.”

Kimi Raikkonen has been and will always be our favorite racing driver not because of his performance, although he is a brilliant driver with great achievements, but because of his cool and laid back attitude. He’s not like other drivers who do acrobatics every time they win something. Keep it real Iceman!

source: Turun Sanomat via Autocar

picture: Kimi’s official website