Raikkonen returns to Formula 1
Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen is returning to Formula 1 after signing a two-year contract with Lotus Renault.
Raikkonen won the drivers' crown with Ferrari in 2007 but he left the sport just two years later in search of a new challenge.
He joined the World Rally Championship but has continually been linked with a return to Formula 1 and in recent weeks was reported to be in talks with Williams.
However, that deal collapsed leaving the 32-year-old questioning whether he would be able to return but Renault stepped in an offered him a two-year contract to join the team, which will be called Lotus from 2012.
"I'm delighted to be coming back to Formula 1 after a two-year break, and I'm grateful to Lotus Renault GP for offering me this opportunity," said Raikkonen.
"My time in the World Rally Championship has been a useful stage in my career as a driver, but I can't deny the fact that my hunger for F1 has recently become overwhelming.
"It was an easy choice to return with Lotus Renault GP as I have been impressed by the scope of the team's ambition. Now I'm looking forward to playing an important role in pushing the team to the very front of the grid."
Renault were left searching for a new driver after Robert Kubica revealed that he would not be ready for the start of the 2012 season as a result of the injuries he sustained in an accident in February.
"All year long, we kept saying that our team was at the start of a brand new cycle. Backstage we've been working hard to build the foundations of a successful structure and to ensure that we would soon be able to fight at the highest level," team owner Gerard Lopez said.
"Kimi's decision to come back to Formula 1 with us is the first step of several announcements which should turn us into an even more serious contender in the future. Of course, we are all looking forward to working with a world champion. On behalf of our staff, I'd like to welcome Kimi to Enstone, a setting that has always been known for its human approach to Formula 1." - http://www.setanta.com
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