Raikkonen & Hakkinen to Compete in the 2009 Arctic Lapland Rally

The Arctic Lapland Rally is likely to benefit from an all-star lineup in 2009. The Finnish event, due to take place less than two weeks from now, on January 22nd, will have two Formula One drivers at the start – one active and one retired – Kimi Raikkonen and Mika Hakkinen. The two drivers, who are also good friends in day-to-day life, have been officially announced on the entry list of the 44th edition of the event.

Much like BMW's Robert Kubica, Raikkonen has expressed his desire to follow a rally career after his racing year inside Formula One would be over. The former F1 champ was already granted permission to participate in the Finnish event by team principal Stefano Domenicali earlier this week.

“This is the traditional attitude we take to our drivers. We always try to have a very open attitude to what they do. I see this as an extra two days of testing for Kimi,” revealed Domenicali on yesterday, during the unveiling of Ferrari's F60 car for the 2009 season.

Raikkonen is scheduled to start Finland’s Arctic Lapland Rally on a Fiat Abarth Grande Punto S2000, while receiving road notes from former racing partner for Rally champion Tommi Makinen, Finland's Kaj Lindstrom.

Hakkinen, on the other hand, will be participating for the 4th time in the Finnish event, following past experiences in the Arctic Rally in 2003, 2004 and 2006 (highlighted a 29th place in 2003). The former McLaren driver and 2-time champion of the F1 championship will be joined by Ilkka Kivimaki as co-driver in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX.