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Raikkonen moves to rallying for 2010

Kimi Raikkonen will drive in the World Rally Championship next year © Sutton Images

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Kimi Raikkonen has signed a one year contract to drive for Citroen's junior world rally team backed by Red Bull.

2007 world champion Raikkonen was replaced by Fernando Alonso at Ferrari for the 2010 Formula One championship and despite exploring options with other teams has decided to make the move to rallying. It is understood he will earn US$25 million from Ferrari not to race in Formula One on top of his deal with Citroen.

He has often hinted that he would make the switch, and after talks with Toyota and McLaren broke down, he made it clear he would be taking a sabbatical from F1.

"I always wanted to compete in rally, especially in the World Rally Championship at some point in my career," he said. "Thanks to Red Bull, I have the opportunity to drive the best car of the series with the Citroen C4. This is a new but very exciting challenge."

It has been speculated that his deal with the Red Bull backed team may develop into a race seat with the company's F1 team in 2011, but Raikkonen said the deal was only for 2010.

"For the moment we have a one-year contract and we will see how it goes for the future," he said. "I am really looking forward to testing the car and taking the start of the first rally."

He made his rally debut earlier this year in an S2000 FIAT Abarth at his home event in Finland and held his own before crashing out on day two. He will compete in 12 of the 13 rallies next season, skipping out the New Zealand round.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.