Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali has given his blessing to Kimi Raikkonen competing in the Arctic Lapland Rally.

Snow, ice and freezing weather will be the order of the day for the 2007 Formula One world champion who will be trading in his Ferrari for a Fiat Abarth Grande Punto S2000.

But Domenicali feels the event will aid Raikkonen in his build-up as he said: "This is the traditional attitude we take to our drivers. We always try to have a very open attitude to what they do, and I see this as an extra two days of testing for Kimi."

The event in northern Finland is run over three days, from January 22-24, covering 150 miles of treacherous terrain.

With the new F1 season due to start at the end of March, most teams would refuse to allow their drivers to compete.

Raikkonen's participation has sparked enormous interest, particularly as one of his rivals will be 1998 and 1999 F1 world champion, and fellow Finn, Mika Hakkinen.

Hakkinen, who has previously driven in the rally in 2003, 2004 and 2006, will be at the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX.