Kimi Raikkonen started and ended the 2007 season the same way on the track -- with a convincing victory. He also started and ended the 2007 season the same way off the track -- doing his own thing.
In early 2007, Kimi Räikkönen entered and won a snowmobile race in his native Finland under the name James Hunt.
The fact that he chose Hunt’s name – a former world champion and renowned party animal – looked like a window into the real, fun-loving personality he keeps hidden behind the dull, monotonous front we’re used to seeing.
Raikkonen: “My friends and I had always joked about [entering a race as ‘James Hunt’]… My life would definitely have been much easier in the 1970s. I was definitely born in the wrong era.”
But not only did Raikkonen do it, win the snowmobile race, and get away with it, but he then went out and won the Australian Grand Prix as well.
Kimi, a reluctant student who used his schoolbag as a sled to slide down snow-covered hills, enjoyed winter sports, especially ice hockey, though he eventually gave it up because he hated getting up for early-morning practice.
https://kimiraikkonenspace.com/2012/05/24/whats-james-hunt-got-to-do-with-kimi/
https://www.racefans.net/2007/08/12/against-all-odds-eoin-young-james-hunt-1977/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7055633.stm
http://www.espn.com/racing/news/story?series=6&id=3288179
https://www.formula1.com/en/championship/drivers/hall-of-fame/Kimi_Raikkonen.html
http://www.f1zone.net/news/raikkonen-to-begin-break-with-snowmobile-race/17063/
Wow, this is why I keep coming here. It still amazes me how you find these facts!
ReplyDeletethen my job here is done! I just keep reading, and anytime people mention something cool, I track down what I can and am glad that something new has come my way.
DeleteMethinks Kimi R. could earn millions of dollars more in sponsorship money, if he cared to be a more accessible, smiling, friendly etc. person, instead of being grumpy, wry, sarcastic etc. But fortunately he is the way he is, which is a helluva lot more entertaining for the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteI miss spoke on another thread about one of Kimi's exploits. Around 2007 he and two of his friends entered a powerboat race all dressed in gorilla suits. 'Whoever' was driving the boat registered as James Hunt also.
ReplyDelete