Testing a 2012 Renault!
I wish him every success but feel that his opportunity in F1 has past. What about Indycar, I would love to see that?
JUNE 6, 2017 Kubica to test F1 car in Valencia Six years after his near-fatal crash, Robert Kubica is set to return to the wheel of a formula one car. Just before the 2011 season, as he took part in an Italian rally, the Pole almost severed his forearm in a crash. Until now, he has ruled out a return to open cockpit racing due to arm movement limitations. But Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that, together with the Renault team with whom the now 32-year-old last raced in F1, Kubica is currently at the Valencia circuit in Spain. There, as well as Renault reserve driver Sergey Sirotkin, he is reportedly scheduled to test the Enstone team's 2012 car, which competed in F1 as Lotus.
Kubica to test F1 car for first time since 2011 - - - - June 5, 2017 Robert Kubica is set to sample Formula 1 machinery for the first time since 2011 after nearly losing his right hand in a horrific rallying accident in Andorra. The Polish driver will be testing the 2012 Lotus at the Valencia Ricardo Tormo circuit with test driver Sergey Sirotkin on Tuesday. After deciding to take a turn away from rallying, Kubica was set to return to road racing to drive for the LMP1 ByKolles team in the World Endurance Championship, before pulling out before the opening round at Silverstone in April. Since then, the 32-year old has been sampling more racing machinery with recent tests in Formula E, GP3 and also an LMP2 Dallara for SMP Racing. Kubica said earlier in the year he felt was ready to return to F1, even if he could not drive all of the circuits yet, but is under no illusion testing an F1 car is one thing and a race weekend something ‘totally different’. Testing the Renault E20 will also mean that Kubica will not be trying hybrid technology in an F1 car just yet, with no further tests currently planned for the future and no concrete plans set in place for the rest of the 2017 season, Kubica could be available more runs if this test were to be successful.
It's probably cheaper than to run the current piece of crap sounding things they have these days. Also, he's probably picking where he left off. If he's really serious, he might just replace Palmer...
Get him in the Renault car now! He completed 115 laps! That's very impressive. Surely he can't be worse than Palmer... swap them now!
I hope his arm is good, 115 laps is highly encouraging. Fingers crossed he can replace that useless Palmer...
More laps in the new hybrid car....get to know the settings....several months in the sim at all tracks....might see him 2018.
I believe Indycar would be even harder as more strength required to steer the car without power steering.
I read this today and grinned ear to ear. There was always question about Robert's ability to shift with that arm, but it looks like that is ok now. Robert is like Alonso in that he is a very complete driver. He is just 32, would love to see him back. As far as I can see, if he can do 115 laps in a day and go unscathed, then he can run full-time in seat.
read another article from the Telegraph where Robert stated he could probably drive at 80% of the tracks on the F1 calendar. His right arm movement seems to be the primary factor
I agreed, I often wonder how F1 would be if he had not been injured, where he would be now, he was pretty damned fast back them.