M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson expects Robert Kubica to put the disappointment of Rallye Monte-Carlo and Rally Sweden firmly behind him when the FIA World Rally Championship moves to Mexico’s gravel stages next month.
The reigning WRC2 champion crashed out in Monte Carlo and finished 36 minutes behind rally winner Jari-Matti Latvala in Sweden after leaving the road three times in tricky conditions.
But the first gravel stages of the season at Rally Mexico will present Kubica with a more familiar challenge and Wilson expects the Pole to show his true potential as a WRC driver.
He said: “We saw great pace from Robert in Monte and we always felt it would be very difficult for him in Sweden if the conditions were like they were. But he’s looking forward to Mexico. It’s an event that tends to bring consistent road conditions and I think that will be good for him. It will give him the chance to really learn the car.”
Kubica - tough Sweden
Wilson said the former F1 race winner was ‘very much still up for the fight’ and was doing everything possible to score a positive result in Mexico.
“Very few people have any idea how focused and professional Robert is when preparing for rallies,” Wilson explained. “We’ll be doing a test in Spain prior to the event and that will give him time in the car in similar conditions to those we’re expecting in Mexico.
“We’ll simulate the expected performance and power of the car on the test – something that can be reduced by as much as 30% in Mexico. By simulating that on the test, Robert will know what to expect from the car and that will help him in competition,” he added.