F1 ace Kubica to compete in WRC 2

Robert Kubica will tackle this year’s World Rally Championship WRC 2 category with Citroen.After competing in a handful of national rallies last year, including two in a Citroen C4 WRC, the ex-Formula 1 driver has confirmed a full season with the French manufacturer for 2013.He will drive a Citroën DS3 RRC on the seven round WRC 2 championship, as well as a limited number of other European events.
The Pole’s 2013 programme will get underway at the Rally Islas Canarias – the third round of the FIA European Rally Championship – before he begins his campaign in the WRC 2 at April’s Rally de Portugal.
“I weighed up the different options before deciding on this programme,” confirmed the Krakow-born driver. “I kept in touch with Citroën Racing and both sides were keen to continue working together. I’m really pleased now to be able to return to top-level racing.
“I can’t wait to start racing, but I haven’t set myself any specific target. I still have a lot to learn in rallying and to improve I will need to rack up the miles on the stages.”
Kubica has long had a passion for rallying, but his driving career was thrown into doubt in February 2011 when he was seriously injured in a crash on an Italian national rally that left him with limited use of his right hand.
Following special dispensation from the FIA, the Polish driver’s car will have a specifically designed gearbox with a paddle-shift installed to the left of the steering wheel.
Yves Matton, Citroën Racing Team Principal thanked the FIA for enabling the change and said he was especially pleased to have Kubica as one of his drivers in 2013.“Thanks to the support of his partners, we are in the process of putting together a racing programme that will enable him to improve in a car that offers similar handling to a World Rally Car,” said Matton. “Robert’s determination is an example to us all and we are proud to associate Citroën Racing’s image with such a resolutely positive individual.”