csconstantine.com

{ Kubica seriously injured in crash(UKPA) – 44 minutes ago

Lotus Renault driver Robert Kubica is undergoing surgery on multiple fractures after suffering a high-speed accident while competing in a rally in Italy.

The 26-year-old Pole was taking part in the Ronde di Andora Rally near Genoa when he left the road and crashed into a wall. Kubica was airlifted to the Pietra Ligure Hospital with serious injuries to his arm, leg and hand. His co-driver, Jakub Gerber was unhurt.

Kubica's Lotus Renault team gave an update on their official Twitter feed, saying: "After extensive medical checks, Robert has been diagnosed with multiple fractures to his right arm, leg and hand. He is undergoing surgery."

The accident is almost certain to rule Kubica out of the start of the Formula One season, which gets under way in Bahrain on March 13. Lotus Renault reserve driver Bruno Senna is the man most likely to deputise in Kubica's absence.

Kubica's accident prompted a flood of messages on Twitter, with many of his fellow drivers keen to offer their support.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso said: "Let's all support Robert Kubica, who suffered an accident. Besides a great driver, he is a great person."

"I'm thinking of Robert, wish him all the best and hope to see him soon on the track and especially off-track as a friend," said Virgin Racing's Timo Glock.

Williams veteran Rubens Barrichello Tweeted: "I would like to ask you for your best wishes to Kubica. He is being operated (on) right now. We all like him and he deserves all the best."

The crash is reported to have taken place 4.6km into the stage. Kubica's car, a Skoda Fabia, left the road and collided with the wall of a church.

Kubica is said to have remained conscious during a lengthy operation to free him from the car before he was airlifted away.

Copyright © 2011 The Press Association. All rights reserved.

Agences de presses

Labels: Association, crash, injured, Kubica, Press, seriously

{
Robert Kubica, Turkish GP 2010 

 © The Cahier Archive

Robert Kubica has been airlifted to hospital with multiple fractures to his arm, leg and hand after a crash en route to a Ronde di Andora rally stage in Italy.

Kubica, driving a Skoda Fabia, is believed to have hit a church wall and overturned, with co-driver Jakub Gerber escaping unhurt. The 26-year-old Pole, the Renault team leader who set the pace in last week's Valencia F1 test, is believed to have suffered fractures to his left leg and to his hand/wrist, although we stress that there has been no official medical information.

Lotus Renault GP has issued a statement confirming that Kubica has been taken to Pietra Ligure Hospital, near Genoa, where he has been diagnosed with multiple fractures to his right arm, leg and hand, and is currently undergoing surgery.

Kubica has regularly contested rallies alongside his F1 career but today's accident, sadly, will put the wisdom of such actions under serious scrutiny. Kubica, who won the 2008 Canadian GP for BMW a year after suffering a colossal accident in the same race a year earlier, is highly rated by his rivals as well as by his team. Technical chief James Allison said last year, "I have no doubt that if we give Robert a championship-winning car, he will deliver a title."

Although it is early days in pre-season testing, the initial performance of the new Group Lotus-sponsored Renault R31 seems highly promising. While the prime concern must be for Kubica and a full recovery that allows him to continue his career, it seems inevitable that he will not be taking part in the opening races of the new F1 season, which starts in Bahrain five weeks today.

The team finds itself in a situation whereby its second driver, Vitaly Petrov, has just one season of F1 experience behind him and, also, the biggest 2010 gulf between himself and his team mate on the F1 grid.

Bruno Senna has just signed a deal to be Renault's reserve driver. The 27-year-old also has only a single season in the top category under his belt, with the newly-formed HRT team. If Kubica's injuries rule him out as expected, it remains to be seen whether Renault will consider Petrov/Senna a workable partnership or whether the team will look elsewhere.

Drivers with ability/experience who have not got full-time F1 seats in 2011 include Germans Nick Heidfeld and former GP champion Nico Hulkenberg, who is reserve driver at Force India.

Agences de presses

Labels: crash, GrandPrix, Kubica, rally, seriously