Monday 28 July at 13:08 : World champion Kimi Raikkonen says he would try his hand at rallying once his formula one career is over.

The 28-year-old Finn, who is currently weighing up whether or not to renew his contract with Ferrari beyond 2009, told the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport that he is not afraid of life after grand prix racing.

"I will not be bored," Raikkonen said. "When I stop formula one, I will keep going for fun to other races. At some point I will try rallying.

"That interests me; asphalt, gravel and ice, it must be fun," he explained.

The 2007 drivers' title winner stopped short of saying his ambition would be to compete at World Rally level.

"It's difficult to say, because I have never done a rally seriously. On asphalt I would probably be okay but on gravel I have no experience. And having a co-pilot for me would be difficult."

Raikkonen's interest in rallying is probably stirred by the exploits of his older brother Rami, who is a rally driver of some repute in Finland.

What is clear, however, is that if Raikkonen does hang up his F1 helmet in the near future, he will not walk away from motor racing entirely.

"I have spent my whole life in motor sport. I have never had the plans to do anything else," he explained.