HELSINKI, March 30- Finnish rally driver Kimi Raikkonen will be make his American NASCAR debut this year with brand new team ICE1 Racing, according to a Finnish newspaper.
Raikkonen told one of the country’s largest dailies, Turun Sanomat, that he will continue to race in the World Rally Championships for another eight rallies before making the leap to NASCAR this summer.
"I have been following it for a long time… Obviously, it will be very challenging and great fun for me," he told the paper.
Like all NASCAR rookies, he will start racing in the World Camping Truck series before expanding to the Sprint Cup Series.
Former Formula 1 champion Raikkonen left the sport in 2009 to race in the WRC last year.
In NASCAR, Raikkonen will team up with Foster Gillett, whose family owns other sports franchises as well.
