WRC promoter Simon Long wants Kimi Raikkonen for the World Rally Championship

World Rally Championship global promoter Simon Long said he would be "extremely interested" in talking to Kimi Raikkonen about the Finn's future beyond F1, according to Autosport magazine.

Raikkonen competed on his first asphalt rally last weekend, but crashed out of the event with a broken TCA on SS3, after suffering centre differential problems with the Punto from the start of the rally. 

Kimi states that he is interested in contesting more rallies this season, with another two outings pencilled in for the Tommi Makinen Racing prepared Abarth Grande Punto S2000.

ISC CEO Simon Long commented to Autosport:

Our sport is built on heroes and iconic figures - and they don't come any bigger than Kimi Raikkonen. Just the mention of his name has got my pulse racing.

I'd be more than willing to talk to his people to help out in any way we can. We've seen the attraction WRC holds for Valentino Rossi, and I'm sure it would be the same for Raikkonen.

29-year-old Raikkonen is contracted to Ferrari until the end of 2010.

Source: Autosport

Videos of Kimi Raikkonen on Rally della Marca 2009