Kubica lands full-time race return in WEC

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Ex-Formula One driver Robert Kubica will make his Le Mans 24 Hours debut and compete in the World Endurance Championship with the ByKolles privateer LMP1 team in 2017.

The former BMW and Renault F1 driver will make his full-time return to circuit racing following a series of one-off sportscar endurance outings in GT machinery, including the Dubai 24 Hour in January, the 12 Hours of Mugello, a Renault Sport Trophy round at Spa and the 6 Hours of Rome at Vallelunga.

Kubica tested ByKolles' CLM P1/01 car last November during the WEC rookie test at Bahrain, setting quicker lap times than the Austrian outfit's regular drivers achieved throughout the race weekend.

"After my time in rally I've been looking for something as close to Formula One as possible," the 32-year-old Pole said. "This is exactly what I've found in LMP1. At the end of last year's WEC season, I was able to do my first laps behind the wheel of the CLM P1/01.

"I felt comfortable in the car very quickly and was able to increase my pace accordingly. With even more experience I'm sure I will be able to extract more performance. I'm already very much looking forward to the Prologue in Monza and the season start in Silverstone."

The 2008 Canadian Grand Prix winner's promising F1 career was brought to a sudden halt ahead of the 2011 season when he suffered severe injuries to his arm, leg and hand in a near-fatal crash during an off-season rally event in Italy.

Kubica made a remarkable recovery from his injuries and contested in the World Rally Championship between 2013 and 2016, before switching his attentions to a return to circuit racing.

Eleven-time F1 grand prix winner Rubens Barrichello will also make his Le Mans 24 Hours debut this year, partnering 1988 race winner Jan Lammers at the Racing Team Netherlands LMP2 squad.

2014 WEC champion and former Red Bull F1 driver Mark Webber has been appointed Grand Marshal for the 85th 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Australian finished second at the event in 2015 during his title-winning LMP1 campaign with Porsche and will be responsible for launching this year's race on June 17

[dublin boy]

Thanks for that JC, I never even knew he'd got back into any kind of racing.

 

[afx]

He had been doing some rallying after his accident.  Check out this intense onboard.

 

[Xingu]

Never fails, you can run day races, hit lots of stuff and never bust a light. You run at night and the first thing you lightly hit takes out a light or two. I don't think I want a house along a rally route.

 

[afx]

Robert Kubica wants to 'relive the thrill' of driving an F1 car

 

Former Renault and BMW driver Robert Kubica says he feels physically ready to drive a Formula One car again and is keen to take part in a test.

Kubica last drove an F1 car during winter testing in 2011, topping the timesheets for Lotus Renault just a few days before suffering horrific injuries in a rallying accident in Italy. Although Kubica made a remarkable recovery from the accident, a severe injury to his right forearm reduced its mobility and prevented a return to F1.

Since then, he has contested in the World Rally Championship, took part in four GT events last year and is set to make his return to full-time circuit racing in the World Endurance Championship with the ByKolles LMP1 squad in 2017.

Speaking to Motorsport.com, Kubica said he had turned down a previous offer to test an F1 car as he was not yet ready at that time.

"At that moment I didn't have the confidence to do well," the 32-year-old said. "I know that often some chances only come one time, but I always wanted to be sure about my condition and what I can do. And if I was not sure, I always said to myself, 'forget it'.

"My physical condition is not a common one, and few people have experienced similar circumstances. Everyone reacts in a different way -- and that can be a very personal thing."

Asked if he would now accept an offer to test F1 machinery if the opportunity arose, Kubica replied: "Yes. Today I would answer differently -- I would like to try a Formula One car.

"It has been a while [since I drove one], so I would have to prove myself, but I think I could do it well. I would like to relive the thrill of the Formula One experience."

On hearing about Kubica's quotes, reigning world champion Nico Rosberg tweeted his support.

 

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Nico Rosberg 

 

✔@nico_rosberg

What you think? I hope a top team gives Robert the opportunity. It would be great to watch! Sure he would be fast immediately as always!

6:47 AM - 7 Feb 2017

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The 2008 Canadian Grand Prix winner and 12-time podium finisher has tried a number of F1 simulators including Mercedes' since his 2011 crash at the Ronde di Andora rally. He conceded even a test session falls short of the demands required when taking part in a grand prix weekend.

"I have tried many simulators, and I am convinced that I would drive at 80% of the F1 tracks -- but not all of them. I also have to point out that testing a Formula One car is one thing, a race weekend is something totally different.

"In my last three seasons of F1, I managed to achieve a remarkable performance level, a level I think I lack a little bit of now. In 2010 with Renault, I think I did nothing wrong and to get to that level of performance you have to work hard for so many years."

[Xingu]

There are teams out there that could/should take a chance. He would surely be better than some of the current #2 drivers (and maybe a few #1 drivers as well).