by H. Mayor – photo: f1.com | The Polish driver Robert Kubica was, at the start of his career, one of the greatest “diamonds in the rough” and biggest promises of the grid but his career was violently brought to a halt after a tragic accident at the rally in Andora (Italy) in February 2011 which left him badly injured. Initially it was thought that he would never be able to return to F1. Since then however,  Kubica has demonstrated an inspiring determination to overcome adversity in his quest to return to the sport he loves.

Team Renault has confirmed, with the FIA’s blessing (which has certified his Super Licence is still valid), that Kubica will drive for them at the tests following this weekend’s Hungarian GP. He has already gathered some good sensations after completing both tests at Cheste and Paul Ricard onboard the 2012 Renault but this next challenge is a step beyond. He will get behind the wheel of the current RS17, in which everyone agrees, is a decisive test for Renault to gauge the driver’s fitness.

Slowly but surely Kubica’s return is taking shape. “No, we are not going to change plans at this point, we are staying with Jo Palmer” said Cyril Abiteboul, Renault’s manager, a few days ago, settling the rumour of a hypothetical change during the season that would bring back Kubica in exchange for low performing Palmer.

2018

Abiteboul himself confirmed the current tests are all about finding out if the Polish driver would ever be able to drive a modern F1 car in 2018, seven years after his last race: “We need to find out more precisely what would be Robert’s real capacity to race a modern car again and to do it within the context of a race”.

That fateful year 2011, Robert Kubica set off, on board his Lotus Renault, as one of the great attractions of the F1 season and with the prospect of an outstanding career ahead of him. Six years on from that appalling accident he will feel once again the texture and shape of the wheel between his hands during the tests that will take place after the Hungarian race. It will not only be an F1 driver’s test but personal challenge too.