Guest Blog from James Foster

Words by James Foster (@jimmyb_84)

The Iceman

Kimi Raikkonen, why is he my favourite driver? It’s quite simple to me, he races because he just loves it.

(c) Octane Photographic

Kimi was a relative newcomer to racing when he entered F1 for Sauber in 2001, he was only given a super licence because of a performance promise by Peter Sauber, seeing as Kimi had only raced in 21 single seater races before entering a F1 car. That to my knowledge is un-heard of. By 2007 after a stint with Mclaren, the drivers world title was secured with Ferrari.

The Fin will race anything because he loves it, for example during his first year as a Ferrari driver he entered a snowmobile race under the alias “James Hunt”, the same name was used when he entered a powerboat race in Finland with his 2 friends dressed in Gorilla costumes. Other examples include trying his hand at NASCAR via truck test for Kyle Busch. Also how can we forget his current project attempting to become the WRC Champion. I really hope he reaches this goal, as off the top of my head I can’t remember another driver completing this feat.

Kimi just reminds me of the great drivers from yest er year, when they would drive anything because they love it, drivers like Sir Stirling Moss, Jim Clarke, Graham Hill and Juan Manuel Fangio etc..... These great drivers would have a go at anything Le Mans, Indy, F3 and so on because of their love. It would not surprise me to see Kimi in either the NASCAR sprint cup or appearing at Le Man.

I’ve not even mentioned his personality or character yet, the “Iceman” just cool calm and collective. He wouldn’t give you much information but you would be glued to any interview because he might say something unmissable. For example while Martin Brundle was on a grid walk during Schumacher’s last race (turned out it wasn’t), Kimi missed the German’s presentation because he “was having a shit”. Just gold, I nearly died laughing at the time.

Kimi is a great driver because great drivers, drive anything.