Robert Kubica’s stunning victory in last weekend’s Janner Rally was the perfect way to build up to what will be a challenging first season in the WRC.
Kubica’s passion for rallying almost cost him his life when he was horribly injured in a serious accident in the Ronde di Andora in February 2011. The accident almost severed his right arm and caused multiple fractures to the right-hand side of his body after a section of the Armco penetrated his car’s safety cage and sliced into his body. He came within inches of death and will almost certainly never drive an F1 car in anger again.
Before the accident, Kubica was set for F1 superstardom. Having suffered a frightening accident in Montreal whilst driving for BMW Sauber in 2007, Kubica enjoyed a stellar 2008 season.
He scored maiden victory at the Canadian Grand Prix at the venue of his horror smash en route to fourth in the drivers’ standings in a season that saw him score seven podium finishes. A tough 2009 followed before a move to Renault saw three further podiums in what was largely a disappointing season.
Of course, we’ll never know what Kubica could have achieved in F1 was it not for his accident. Or do we? After a season that saw Lotus juggle with Nick Heidfeld, Vitaly Petrov and Bruno Senna, Lotus became a new force under Kimi Raikkonen in 2012. Having spent two seasons away from the sport, Raikkonen finished third in the drivers’ championship with a victory and six other podium finishes.
The Lotus E20 would arguably have been the most competitive F1 car yet at Kubica’s disposal and he would have been in better shape and better practice than Raikkonen.
The fact that Kubica is still winning in rally with an impediment—he still has restricted movement of his arm and fingers—proves what a talented driver he really is.
Will Kubica ever make it back to F1? Unlikely. Did he have the potential to be an F1 world champion? Undoubtedly.
video credit: © 2014 youtube.com
edited text: © 2014 Fraser Masefield / Bleacher Report
