Kimi Raikkonen

After calling time on his F1 career at the end of 2021, Kimi Raikkonen has announced his return to racing as he prepares to join NASCAR. Photo: PA

Kimi Raikkonen announces NASCAR move

After calling time on his F1 career at the end of 2021, Kimi Raikkonen has announced his return to racing as he prepares to join NASCAR.

Kimi Raikkonen

After calling time on his F1 career at the end of 2021, Kimi Raikkonen has announced his return to racing as he prepares to join NASCAR. Photo: PA

After calling time on his Formula One career at the end of last season, Kimi Raikkonen has announced his return to racing as he prepares to join NASCAR.

READ | FORMULA ONE TAKES A GIANT STEP TOWARDS A RETURN TO SA – BUT NOT CAPE TOWN!

According to the PlanetF1 website, the 42-year-old Finn is expected to make his debut for Trackhouse Racing Team later this year.

Kimi Raikkonen was F1 world champion in 2007

Raikkonen’s F1 career saw him become a world champion in 2007 with Ferrari when he beat both Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso to the title by one point.

READ | FORMULA ONE: UPDATED DRIVERS STANDINGS AFTER SPANISH GRAND PRIX

The ‘Iceman’ also spent time at McLaren, Lotus and Alfa Romeo during his career, racking up 21 wins, 103 podiums and 18 pole positions as he etched his name in the F1 history books.

But just six months on from his F1 retirement, Raikkonen is back in motorsport and will be back behind the wheel in a few months’ time, with the Finn driving the No 91 Chevrolet Camaro in the road race at Watkins Glenn on 21 August.

READ | F1 TO RETURN TO SA? A TRIP DOWN PITLANE TO THE LAST RACE IN 1993

Kimi Raikkonen confirmed the news on Thursday via Instagram, and added that he was convinced to join the project by PROJECT91 CEO Justin Marks.

“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 programme,” said Raikkonen.

“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.”

Raikkonen has competed in NASCAR before, during his two-year hiatus from Formula One.

After leaving Ferrari at the end of 2009, he enjoyed small stints at rally driving and then NASCAR, joining up with Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2011 to run a limited schedule in the Truck Series; he returned to the F1 grid in 2012 with Lotus.

READ | FORMULA ONE RETURNS TO THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF LAS VEGAS AFTER 40 YEARS