Rallye-eMag /The Teams of the 2014 season
15/40
Robert Kubica started his career as a Formula 1 driver.
Between 2006 and 2011 he drove for BMW Sauber
and Renault when in early 2011 he crashed in a rally
car during the Ronde di Andora Rally. He got seriously
wounded and no one thought the Pole would ever be
behind the wheel of a racing car again.
But they did not know Kubica because in September
2012 he came back and won a minor rally. In 2013 he
drove the ERC and WRC2 championships for Citroën,
en passant winning the WRC2 title. As a token of his
appreciation Yves Matton offered hima full WRC drive
during Wales Rally GB. He did well but lack of experience caused his exit from the rally. Still everyone was
impressed by the speed with which the Pole adapted
tot the difficult world rally car.
It was generally assumed the Pole would join Citroën
for the next season, although Kubica doesn’t rule out
a new F1 future. But at the end of last year it became
clear that there would be no Citroën marriage. “I have
to be loyal to my private sponsor Lotos,” The Pole explained. Lotos on their turn were not prepared to play
second fiddle in a Total sponsored team. This time
Matton couldn’t do anything, he wanted to stay with
Total so Kubica had to look elsewhere.
Malcolm Wilson had already made clear he wanted
Kubica so a deal was quickly made. The Fiesta was
adapted in such a way that Kubica could operate the
car with his injury and by winning the Jänner Rallye in
an M-Sport backed car he thanked Wilson.
Robert Kubica
From
Poland
Birthday
7-12-1984
Co driver
Maciej Szczepaniak
First WRC event Portugal 2013
Starts
9
Wins
0
Podiums
0
Titles
0
Best rally result 5th Germany 2013
Best Championship result 13th 2013
Image: M-Sport
Image: M-Sport