MOTORSPORT: Raikkonen off to a flier Down Under (From Witney Gazette)
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MOTORSPORT: Raikkonen off to a flier Down Under
10:00am Wednesday 20th March 2013 in Sport
Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen salutes the fans after winning the Australian Grand Prix for the west Oxfordshire-based team
KIMI Raikkonen made a flying start to the Formula 1 season with a superb victory in the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne’s Albert Park.
It was a win which thrilled the Enstone-based Lotus outfit and their team principal Eric Boullier.
After Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion, had collected the 20th Formula 1 triumph of his successful career by finishing ahead of Fernan-do Alonso and reigning champion Sebastian Vettel, Boullier could not contain himself.
“It’s a fantastic feeling to open the season in this way,” he said.
“Kimi drove impeccably all weekend and gave the team his all.
“This win is a further testament to all the hard work which goes on at Enstone and we owe tremendous thanks to each and every employee.”
Raikkonen said: “There were still a lot of question marks going into the race, but it turned out to be good, and hopefully we can have many more of these kind of races.”
Romain Grosjean finished tenth in the second Lotus to collect one point.
It was a sad day for the Leafield-based Caterham team, with Giedo van der Garde and Charles Pic, finishing well down the field.
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