Robert Kubica has been seriously injured in a rally crash in Italy. The Pole was driving a Skoda Fabia in the Ronde di Andora rally near Genoa when he left the road at high speed and hit a church wall with the driver’s side.
26-year-old Kubica, who drives in F1 for Renault, had to be cut from the car and helicoptered to hospital while his co-driver escaped unhurt.
Initially, reports said Kubica had unspecified injuries but was conscious, amid expectations a detailed medical bulletin and press statement will be issued shortly.
The first official statement was distributed by Renault, confirming only that Kubica is in the Pietra Ligure hospital.
"Lotus Renault GP will issue another statement as soon as more information is known about Robert’s condition," it read.
Media reports said he has multiple trauma injuries, with some claiming he has broken his femur, the largest bone in the leg, and that the rally event has been called off.
A report by the German news agency SID said Kubica’s hand or wrist is the most badly injured, with surgeons reportedly considering amputation.
The report said he is also injured internally, but Kubica’s father has been quoted in Polish reports as insisting his son’s life is not in danger.