Robert Kubica to Test LMP2 Car at Monza

Paul Jeffrey · May 23, 2017

Former Grand Prix star and WRC driver Robert Kubica will try his luck in a LMP2 Prototype SMP Racing Dallara at Italy's Monza circuit later this May.

Initially due to contest the full World Endurance Championship schedule this season in a Colin Kolles run LMP1 machine, Kubica made a last minute departure from the squad on the eve of the season opening Silverstone round to once again put on hold plans for a full time return to circuit competition.

At the time the 32-year-old Pole admitted his circuit racing aspirations were merely postponed rather than shelved completely, and it appears that with the latest news of yet more seat time in a closed cockpit race car the ambition to return to a high level of tarmac racing remains as strong as ever.

Scheduled to run at Monza as part of the SMP Racing teams Le Mans preparation, Kubica will get behind the wheel of the #27 Dallara P217 Gibson during a two-day test on May 23rd -24th.

“It will be my pleasure and an honour to help SMP Racing prepare its car for a race as important as the Le Mans 24 Hours,” Kubica said.

“We definitely have a lot of tasks for the two days of testing. But I am sure that, with Maurizio (Mediani) and Viktor (Shaytar) and the team, we will gather a lot of useful information to find the optimal set-up for the car.”

It is thought that the test will not be with a view to Kubica driving during the 24 race itself, however the team acknowledge the experience of the Polish Grand Prix race winner could prove invaluable during the teams pre-race preparation, with main drivers Mikhail Aleshin and Sergey Sirotkin both engaged in other activities during the important test session.

“It's an incredibly tight schedule, and so neither Mikhail Aleshin, nor Sergey Sirotkin were available for the Monza test,” Shaytar explained.

“But the experience and skill of Maurizio Mediani and Robert Kubica is exactly what we need to set up our car.”

Kubica has enjoyed plenty of circuit racing seat time over the past 18 months, with one off race events in both the Renault Sport Trophy and the 12 Hours of Mugello driving an AMG Mercedes complementing testing opportunities in endurance racing and more recently behind the wheel of a Formula E car, this first time in an open cockpit single seater since his time with the Renault Formula One team.

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Would you like to see Kubica participate in the WEC full time? Do you think the Polish driver has what it takes to become competitive again in circuit racing competition? Let us know in the comments section below!

Punk Potato · May 23, 2017

As he said himself, his hand/arm movements are not an issue in any way now. We would see him in WEC this season, but it would be worse than McHonda for him, as the team showed horrible pace compared to others, and close to no-reliability. I will be happy seeing him even in P2 class, hopefully he will take a spot in a private team next season

MGXXM · May 23, 2017

I still hope to see Robert back in F1 someday. He should be F1 champion, his driving skills were amazing.

Andrew Harper · May 23, 2017

It all depends on what he wants to achieve but I would actually be very pleased for him if he did some races in the ELMS first. Races are slightly shorter, he could race LMP2 or even LMP3 if he wants to. Slightly lower profile as well which might make the weekend less busy for him (from a media point of view).

All the best to him though, hope the test goes well

Szymon Olizarowicz · May 23, 2017

im a huge fan of p2 so this is a good news to me. If he could come back to f1 at some point then great, but as long as he can give as a great show in any other series, there's no reason to despair. Though I think f1 is definitely more boring without his risky (sometimes bordering on insane) driving.

Celestiale · May 23, 2017

MGXXM said:
I still hope to see Robert back in F1 someday. He should be F1 champion, his driving skills were amazing.

Don't know about his F1 days, didn't watch F1 during that time, only before and after..
But in Rally he wasn't competitive. Yes, he was a privateer, which doesn't make it easy to run with the top runners, but other drivers with cars with similar fundings, like Tanak until last season, or Evans show(ed) a lot better pace. Possible that he was still hampered by his injury though - didn't seem willing to take too much risks, always a little lacklustre, his driving.

Gary Ludlum · May 24, 2017

I am really sorry Kubica that his career is ruined. Whatever kind of injury is that, it prevents him from racing top class for sure.

DeVxC · May 24, 2017

Full time WEC? yes plz it would be amazing, I still have hope one we see him racing full season.

r3pr3z3nt · May 25, 2017

Celestiale said:
Don't know about his F1 days, didn't watch F1 during that time, only before and after..
But in Rally he wasn't competitive. Yes, he was a privateer, which doesn't make it easy to run with the top runners, but other drivers with cars with similar fundings, like Tanak until last season, or Evans show(ed) a lot better pace. Possible that he was still hampered by his injury though - didn't seem willing to take too much risks, always a little lacklustre, his driving.

Wow, what a weird comment. This man won the WRC2 title in his first season. In the second season he was driving a private Fiesta with basically NO TEAM [few people - he was the team manager, coordinator, arranged the car shipping and all logistics, plus had to rally it] - he got results though! He won multiple WRC stages with a private car - like the opening ones in Monte, where he was leading the WRC as a private driver. When was the last time you saw something like that? Ogier in VW with $$$ funding being beaten by a handicapped driver [he drives with left hand] in a private team?

You talk nonsense. And the fact that you don't know him from F1 says a lot - he was kicking ass in shitty BMW's and Renaults. He got BMW their only win ever. Why do you think that was...

Celestiale · May 25, 2017

r3pr3z3nt said:
Wow, what a weird comment. This man won the WRC2 title in his first season. In the second season he was driving a private Fiesta with basically NO TEAM [few people - he was the team manager, coordinator, arranged the car shipping and all logistics, plus had to rally it] - he got results though! He won multiple WRC stages with a private car - like the opening ones in Monte, where he was leading the WRC as a private driver. When was the last time you saw something like that? Ogier in VW with $$$ funding being beaten by a handicapped driver [he drives with left hand] in a private team?

You talk nonsense. And the fact that you don't know him from F1 says a lot - he was kicking ass in shitty BMW's and Renaults. He got BMW their only win ever. Why do you think that was...

Learn to read properly before starting to accuse people.