8 - Kimi Raikkonen

Many peopꦐle might have expected more from Kimi Raikkonen this year, but those that did have little understanding of just how big a challenge the Finn faced switching from F1 to 🔯the World Rally Championship.

The difference between the two is night and day - and when the former Ferrari and McLaren man started his new adventure he had only done a𓃲 handful of rallies and only one with the Citroen C4 WRC.

Despite that though, he scored on onl𓂃y his third outing in the 2010 World Rally Championship, when he was eighth in Jordan.

He☂ then followed that up with a fifth in Turkey - what would turn out to be his best result of the season - and a tenth in Po♌rtugal, a very solid three-event run.

While he would only take two more points finishes - with a seventh in Germany, including his very first stage win, albeit on the 4.37 km event ending super special and an eighth in GB, which he admitted was 𓂃probably the toughest round of the season, he didn💯't disgrace himself.

Yes, he did have a number ওof offs and failed to finish in Mexico, Japan and France and his over-exuberance got the better of him in Spain, when he binned it in the pre-event shakedown. But at least that showed he was really going for it and if he does continue in 2011, he should be 🃏able to put this year's experience to good use.

"This has definitely been the most challenging year of my career and Britain was one of the most difficult rallies I competed on, mostly because of the changing grip all 💮the time," Kimi said after the finale in Wales. "Like everything 🥃else, this has been a completely new experience for me.

"Looking back on 2010, t෴his season has been more or less as I expected it to be: we've made a few mistakes but we've also learned a lot.

"Generally speaking I'm happy 🗹with the progress we've made... and I've had a lot of fun as well, so I'm very grateful to Red Bull and Citroen Racing for all the opportunities that we've enjoyed this year."

Statistics - Kimi Raikkonen:

Team: Citroen Junior TeamCar: Citroen C4 WRC

Championship position: 10thPoints: 25

Events: 12 (out of 13)*Victories: 0Podiums: 0Stages wins: 1Best result: 5th (Turkey)Points finishes: 5

* Did not start in Spain following a crash in the pre-ꦗeven🧸t shakedown

mahbx.com's Top 10 World Rally drivers' of 2010:
8. Kimi Raikkonen
9. Armindo Araujo (Wild Card)
10. Xavier Pons (Wild Card)

Honourable mention: Aaron Burkart (for winning the J-WRC - j🅠ust!)

What do you think of mahbx.com's Top 1༺0 World Rally drivers' for 2010? Why not post a comment now and g🐼ive us your thoughts.

Also look out for our poll coming soon where you can𝐆 vote on who you ꦰthink was the best in 2010...