Valtteri Bottas to make rally debut in World Rally Car Ford Fiesta
Mercedes Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas will kick off his 2019 season by making his competitive rallying debut in Finland in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta World Rally Car
Bottas will contest the Arctic Lapland Rally from January 24-26 in a Fiesta similar to the one used by Sebastien Ogier (pictured below) to win the last two World Rally Championship titles.
His co-driver will be Timo Rautiainen, who navigated Marcus Gronholm to WRC crowns in 2000 and 2002.
"This is a unique opportunity to take a peek into the world of rallying, and I would like to thank everyone who has made it possible," said Bottas.
"It's totally new territory for me too, as I have no prior experience of a World Rally Car.
"Still, being the race car driver that I am, you always go flat out whatever the vehicle you're driving in."
Bottas will continue a long line of Finnish F1 drivers contesting the Arctic event.
World champions Keke Rosberg, Mika Hakkinen and Kimi Raikkonen have all taken part before, as has ex-McLaren and Renault driver Heikki Kovalainen.
Bottas's entry is being billed as 'Flying Finn - Mission in Lapland', as part of a Finnish rally driver development programme by AKK Motorsport.
Rautiainen, whose WRC record alongside Gronholm includes 30 victories and 61 podiums from 144 starts, has remained involved in rallying in recent years in an official capacity.
"This is such an interesting mission that I just had to accept the challenge," said Rautiainen.
"I believe that for a talented wheelman like Valtteri, we'll be able to establish a good basic driving routine in testing.
"The challenging part of course will be learning the ins and outs of pace note making and learning to drive with pace notes all at once."
Bottas's rally debut takes place three weeks before pre-season testing begins for the 2019 F1 season.
Previous article
How Michael Schumacher raised the Formula 1 bar in his career
Next article
Carlos Sainz Jr: McLaren F1 presentation shows recovery possible
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Drivers | Valtteri Bottas |
| Author | Scott Mitchell |
Albert Park Circuit Modifications Project
Mercedes-AMG F1 Team: Bahrain GP Race Debrief
The diva that stole a march on F1’s wide-bodied opposition
In 2017 new F1 technical regulations were supposed to add drama - and peg Mercedes back. STUART CODLING looks at the car which, while troubled, set the stage for the wide-bodied Formula 1 era
The themes to watch in F1’s Imola return
Three weeks is a long time in Formula 1, but in the reshaped start to the 2021 season the teams head to Imola to pick things up after the frenetic Bahrain opener. Here's what to look out for and the developments to follow at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
The 'new' F1 drivers who need to improve at Imola
After a pandemic-hit winter of seat-swapping, F1 kicked off its season with several new faces in town, other drivers adapting to new environments, and one making a much-anticipated comeback. BEN ANDERSON looks at who made the most of their opportunity and who needs to try harder…
The delay that quashed Aston Martin’s last F1 venture
Aston Martin’s only previous foray into Formula 1 in the late 1950s was a short-lived and unsuccessful affair. But it could have been so different, says NIGEL ROEBUCK
Verstappen exclusive: Why lack of car-racing titles won't hurt Red Bull's ace
Max Verstappen’s star quality in Formula 1 is clear. Now equipped with a Red Bull car that is, right now, the world title favourite and the experience to support his talent, could 2021 be the Dutchman’s year to topple the dominant force of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes?
Are we at peak F1 right now?
For many, many years Formula 1 has strived to do and to be better on all fronts. With close competition, a growing fanbase, a stable political landscape and rules in place to encourage sustainability, 2021 is on course to provide an unexpected peak
How crucial marginal calls will decide the Red Bull vs Mercedes battle in F1 2021
The longer Red Bull can maintain a performance edge over Mercedes, the better the odds will be in the team’s favour against the defending world champions. But as the Bahrain Grand Prix showed, many more factors will be critical in the outcome of the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship
How Williams’ new structure adheres to a growing F1 trend
Williams held out against the tide for many years but, as MARK GALLAGHER explains, the age of the owner-manager is long gone
