Written by Andrew Lwanga, Edited by Leah Brown
It's going to be cold in Watkins Glen, New York, in August as Kimi "The Iceman" Räikkönen is set to make a return to NASCAR.
The 2007 Formula 1 World Champion will make his return to the North American Championship a decade after competing in the Camping World Truck Series for one race back in 2011.
This time, Räikkönen will compete in the Cup Series at the helm of the Trackhouse Racing car. Räikkönen will drive the new number 91 car, which team owner Justin Marks has said will be reserved for global racing figures looking to make a run in NASCAR.
“I’m really excited to launch this year with Kimi Räikkönen” Marks told NASCAR.com. “Obviously, the 2007 F1 world champion and the most experienced F1 driver in history, he’ll really kind of help set this program off. I’m looking forward to it. I’m bullish in our ability to be able to track the global stars of motorsport and do something really special under the Trackhouse brand with PROJECT91.”
Räikkönen himself admitted he wasn't looking for a return to racing. The 21-time grand prix winner currently spends his time as the team principal of Kawasaki’s MXGP (motocross grand prix) factory effort.
“I wasn’t looking to race again, but Justin came to my home in Switzerland and convinced me how serious he was about putting together a top-notch program” Räikkönen said in a team release. “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.”
Räikkönen’s return to racing will be on the 21st of August at Watkins Glen.