Kimi Räikkönen will once more enter a NASCAR Cup Collection race, this time at Circuit of the Americas, the place the Finnish driver scored the ultimate victory of his Components One profession in 2018.

Räikkönen will once more race for Trackhouse Leisure Group in its particular Project91 entry that’s designed to offer a seat in NASCAR to drivers from different disciplines. Räikkönen made his Cup Collection debut in August for Trackhouse at Watkins Glen, the place he was aggressive till he was collected in a crash and completed thirty seventh.

“I had a unbelievable time in NASCAR,” Räikkönen stated. “There was so much to study in a really quick period of time, however everybody was very useful; the competitors was a giant problem. This time I get to race on a observe I’m conversant in, so there will not be as steep of a studying curve. I wish to have enjoyable, but additionally do in addition to we are able to.”

Räikkönen has made eight profession F1 begins at COTA, and his win on the Texas highway course in 2018 for Ferrari was the final of his 21 profession victories. The 2007 F1 champion has two profession podiums at COTA.

He’ll drive the No. 91 Chevrolet, a automotive Trackhouse Racing has created particularly for non-NASCAR drivers. Project91 ran solely Watkins Glen final season and handed on a chance to enter four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves within the Daytona 500 to deal with its full-time entrants.

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Trackhouse fields Chevys for Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez, who each made NASCAR’s playoffs final season. Chastain superior to the championship race and completed second within the standings to champion Joey Logano.

Chastain scored his first profession Cup Collection victory final yr at COTA. It was additionally Trackhouse’s first win.

“Once we introduced Kimi final yr, I stated he was the worldwide famous person I had in thoughts once we created PROJECT91,” Trackhouse staff proprietor Justin Marks stated. “I believe you noticed the fan reception internationally, and Kimi’s efficiency within the automotive was proof of the idea. Kimi’s following is huge, and it is nice for NASCAR and Trackhouse, plus I believe Kimi actually enjoys our racing.”

Räikkönen will go to the North Carolina store earlier than the March 26 race however will be unable to check the automotive. He was permitted a check earlier than Watkins Glen final yr.

“I am certain there are plenty of drivers that wish to have an opportunity to strive NASCAR,” stated Räikkönen. “It is not very straightforward, so possibly it’ll open some doorways sooner or later for extra probabilities to try to get extra Europeans into the game.”