Kimi Raikkonen tests his private Grande Punto Abarth on the Finnish roads this week ahead of his World Rally Championship debut on home soil later today (top and bottom) and talking to Abarth factory driver Anton Alén (middle) who will also be in action on the event.

There is still some way to go for a Formula 1 Grand Prix in Finland but Kimi Raikkonen is making his debut today in a world championship home race with a racing car. The Scuderia Ferrari driver is set to the Neste Oil Rally Finland behind the wheel of an Grande Punto Abarth S2000. It is the fourth time that Kimi will participate in a rally, and after two races on ice and snow last winter, the Arctic Rally and Vaakuna Rally, and the Rally della Marca Trevigiana, on tarmac in Italia. His navigator once again will be Kaj Lindstrom, who was a partner of former World Rally Champion Tommi Mäkinen who also prepares Raikkonen's Super 2000 car.

The opening leg of the Neste Oil Rally Finland is split over two days, with a Super Special Stage kicking proceedings off tonight, followed by eight high-speed stages in the countryside east of host town Jyvaskyla tomorrow. Tonight's head-to-head Super Special gets underway from 1900 which will be approximately 45 minutes after the rally starts at the Paviljonki Service Park. After the 2.06km Super Special, cars will be stored overnight in parc ferme until 0600 tomorrow morning when they leave for a 15-minute service interval and then the first of the event's legendary forest stages.

Friday will be a long and action packed day, with four stages run consecutively in the morning and repeated in the afternoon after a return to Jyvaskyla for a 30-minute service. After the six tests, crews will return to Jyvaskyla for a 45-minute service interval before making a second pass of the Killeri Super Special Stage later than night. Including the Super Special, the first leg will comprise of 10 stages and a total competitive distance of 130.84 kilometres.

"I have been to rallies before but this is the first time I have seen the roads: they seem really nice. We will see what will happen but it will be a great experience for me," Raikkonen said during the pre-rally FIA press conference in Finland. "It is much easier for me to adapt to ground than to ice and snow. The grip is alright and the roads are a bit wider. The notes are something completely new to me. I need some time to learn and understand where to go when we jump. My objective is finishing the rally and staying within the times of my group, well I think I that winning is not an option but I will have fun."

Raikkonen was asked if it is just passion or if there might be something more to come: "Why not? I am in Formula 1 and I have a contract for another year with Ferrari but everything is possible in the future. And then I am still a bit too young to retire: a lot will depend on how the situation in Formula 1 will evolve, but I am in no rush." There were also questions about the situation in Formula 1, especially the possibility that Michael Schumacher could drive next to Kimi at the upcoming European GP at Valencia. "Stefano Domenicali informed me about it yesterday," Raikkonen said. The 2007 F1 World Champion for Ferrari added: "Honestly I have to say I feel very honoured if Michael will really drive the second car and he would be my teammate. In the end anything can happen."