F1 star Robert Kubica seriously injured in rally crash

[rospants]

Formula 1 star Robert Kubica has suffered "serious injuries" while taking part in a rally in Italy, an official news agency has reported.
According to reports, the 26-year-old Pole crashed into a wall and was air-lifted to a nearby hospital.
A spokeswoman for his British-based Renault team told Reuters the driver was conscious and a statement would be issued shortly.
He has been preparing for a new Formula 1 season which starts on 13 March.
The extent of Kubica's injuries are still to be confirmed but it is believed his co-driver Jakub Gerber was unhurt in the crash.
Kubica regularly competes in rallies and was driving on Sunday a week after testing the new Lotus-backed Renault in Valencia ahead of the opening Formula 1 race in Bahrain.
He was an impressive performer last season to finish in eighth position in the drivers' table, securing second at Melbourne and a third in Monaco and Belgium.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Seems a bit odd that an F1 team would allow their top driver to be knocking around rally driving a week before the season starts. The insurance costs alone must be huge.

 

[Cranky]

According to rumours in Poland he may have to have his right hand amputated and has broken his right leg in multiple places, don't think we will be seeing him in a Formula One car again, cannot believe he is allowed to Rally in preparation for F1, that would be like a football player playing a few games of American Football in Pre Season to get fit?!?

 

[The Wizard]

According to rumours in Poland he may have to have his right hand amputated and has broken his right leg in multiple places, don't think we will be seeing him in a Formula One car again, cannot believe he is allowed to Rally in preparation for F1, that would be like a football player playing a few games of American Football in Pre Season to get fit?!?

According to BBC official reports its fractures to left arm & left leg..

 

[Icy Gull]

Seems a bit odd that an F1 team would allow their top driver to be knocking around rally driving a week before the season starts. The insurance costs alone must be huge.

Is it 6 March already? I've just lost a month of my life

 

[Cranky]

According to BBC official reports its fractures to left arm & left leg..

Maybe my Polish friend was looking at him the wrong way round.

As I said it's only a rumour at the moment.

 

[Vatican Citys No.2 Keeper]

Is pretty certain that Robert won't be part of the 2011 season judging by this evening's news

BBC Sport - F1 - Robert Kubica's F1 career at risk after rally crash

Not suprised myself that he was doing something like this. Anyone who has read any interviews that Rob has done in the past, including the one on the BBC Sport profile, will know that the man utterly loves to race, and frankly he couldn't see himself doing anything else. Wish him a speedy recovery, because in the right car he could have been, or still could be a great world champion.

 

[Marc]

Drivers for all sorts of racing genres do other driving during their off-seasons, some even part take in other races during their main racing season, it only surprises my with Kubica thats its F1 (the so called Pinnacle of the Sport...especially in terms of Money) and this was so close to the start of the season that he was allowed to do it. Hope he makes a full recovery.

 

[tedebear]

Blimey - that is dreadful news for him, hope he is ok, the car is quite a mess. How on earth did they let him do that so close to the start of the season....

 

[severnside gull]

"Right hand partially severed"

BBC SPORT | Motorsport | Formula 1

really feel for the lad as he will struggle to come back from that but from the look of that car it could have been much worse

 

[AIT76]

Kubica is an experienced rally driver, and the accident itself was a bit of a freak - his injuries were caused by a crash barrier coming through the footwell of his car. But for that he may have been able to walk away.