Early start for Raikkonen

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Kimi Raikkonen will have his first spin in an F1 car in more than two years when he tests for Lotus later this month…

Kimi Raikkonen will have his first spin in an F1 car in more than two years when he tests for Lotus later this month.

The Enstone squad have confirmed that the 2007 World Champion, who last drove a Formula One car in 2009 when he was still at Ferrari, will undertake some additional testing in a two-year-old Renault at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia.

“We can now confirm that Kimi Raikkonen will be completing some mileage in the team’s R30 car at Valencia on 23rd/24th January,” the team said via Twitter.

The first official pre-season test takes place at Jerez from February 7 and Raikkonen will be eager to get as much time behind the wheel as possible after his two seasons in the World Rally Championship.

“Comparing 2009 to next year the biggest difference will probably be the tyres,” the Finn said in December.

“I don’t think there is a lot of difference with the cars. DRS is a new thing but this is basically similar to before.

“The button that used to be for the front wing has disappeared, so now it’s for the rear wing. I would guess the main difference is really the tyres.”