Robert Kubica has warned people not to expect too much from him at November’s Wales Rally GB, when he will make his competitive debut at the wheel of a factory-spec world rally car.
The one-off outing in a Citroen DS3 WRC comes at the end of a remarkable debut season for the former Formula 1 driver, who won the FIA WRC 2 championship with a Citroen DS3 RRC.
Kubica won five of the seven rounds he contested in the car, which has a modified gear selector system after a crash in 2011 left him with limited strength in his right hand.
But despite his rapid ascent to the top of the WRC 2 standings, Kubica played down speculation that he could do the same in the premier category.
“I know many people would like to see me go very fast in GB, but I think it will be very difficult. It will be impossible for me to be on pace or close enough to the top five or six, otherwise – with all the other drivers’ experience, something will be wrong in the system,” he said.
“I cannot be 20 years circuit driver, then jump into the stage at the end of March and in six months be able to fight with the top guys in the world, where they are the best. We have to stay calm and I am staying very calm,” he added.
Kubica will drive the DS3 WRC, with the same gear selector modifications as the RRC, at a test in Wales on Monday 11 November.
“The rally is a great opportunity to learn a new rally and new stages. This is my target,” said Kubica. “It is a bonus for me, normally my season should have ended now and I have to thank Citroën, Abu Dhabi and Lotos for the opportunity. I see it as fun, if this guy has the chance after six months to drive the factory car for the first time, then I would say this is good!”
Wales Rally GB, the final round of the 2013 World Rally Championship, gets underway from an all-new base in Deeside on Thursday 14 November.