Finnish motor sports legend Kimi Räikkönen has once again made rally fans excited. Surprisingly, the Formula 1 World Champion in the 2007 Formula 1 announced that he would return to the Rally Championship (WRC) in 2026, which has attracted tremendous attention in the motor racing world. Räikkönen, known as his nickname “Iceman”, competed in the WRC series in 2010-2011 in the Citroën Junior Team and his own Ice 1 Racing team, but his return is an unexpected turn in his career, which has focused on random racing times in recent years. Räikkönen revealed the news in an interview with Ilta-Sanomat, saying, “The rally has always been close to my heart. Now is the time to go back and see where the strokes are enough.” This announcement has set a spark in the rally world, especially in Finland, where Räikkönen is a national hero.

Räikkönen, a 46-year-old driver from Espoo, is known not only for his F1 career but also his passion for rally. His previous WRC career began in 2009 when he drove Tommi Mäkinen in the Super2000 Fiat in the Finnish World Championship with Tommi Mäkinen’s Racing equipment. In 2010 and 2011, he competed for full season at Citroën C4 WRC and DS3 WRC, achieved his best results in the Turkish rally in 2010, where he finished fifth. Räikkönen collected 59 World Championships in his career from 21 races, but the award-winners remained a dream. His map reader at the time was Kaj Lindström, and the fans were now speculating whether Lindström could return to Räikkönen in 2026.

The World Rally Championship has changed a lot from Räikkönen’s last visit. In the 2026 season, Rally1 cars are still in use, but the hybrid units have been removed and Hankook has replaced Pirell as a tire supplier. New races have been added to the calendar, such as the Paraguay and Saudi rallies, and Estonia returns to the series. Kalle Rovanperä and Sami Pajari have confirmed that they are driving on the Toyota factory team, so Räikkönen’s return would bring more to the Finnish fans. Räikkönen himself has emphasized that he does not intend to run a full period, but focuses on selected races, such as the Finnish World Championship, which is his home race. “I don’t want a tight schedule, like last time. I want to enjoy driving on my own terms,” ​​he comments to Dirtfish.

The return of Räikkönen raises questions about his competitiveness. Although he showed speed in his WRC career, for example, by winning a special stage in the German rally in 2010, the number of notes and the rhythm of the rally were challenging for him compared to F1. However, his experience and natural driving skills make him a frightening opponent. Jari-Matti Latvala, Toyota’s team manager, has previously praised Räikkönen’s potential and said to Ilta magazine, “Kimi brought a tremendous amount of visibility to the rally. His return would be a wonderful story.” Latvala hinted that Räikkönen could test the Toyota Rally2, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

The fans have been enthusiastic about the news. On the X platform, many Finnish supporters have expressed their joy, and hashtag #icemanwrc has become a trend. However, others suspect whether Raikkonen can challenge younger drivers, such as Thierry Neuville or Rovanperä, who dominate the series. However, Räikkönen’s relaxed attitude and low speech are part of his charm, and his return will undoubtedly bring more international attention to the WRC. His previous participation increased the visibility of the rally, and the same is expected now, especially as the series is struggling to attract new car manufacturers.

In the 2026 season, Räikkönen could compete in rallies in Monte Carlo, Sweden or Finland, which fit his driving style. His return takes place at an interesting moment as the WRC series is undergoing a transformation with new rules and racing venues. Räikkönen’s participation could also inspire other former F1 drivers, such as Lando Norris, who has tested the WRC. Räikkönen’s passion for motor racing and his ability to surprise him to make him an unpredictable factor. When the 2026 season starts in Monte Carlo, Finnish fans are already looking forward to what the “iceberg” brings. Räikkönen’s return is not only a nostalgic moment but also an indication that his competition has not extinguished, even though the F1 career ended in 2021.