Kubica fractures legposted in F106 | 02 | 2011

RENAULT'S F1 PLANS have been dealt a severe blow with Robert Kubica set to miss the start of the season. The Polish driver sustained multiple fractures to his right arm, leg and hand in a high speed crash on the Ronde di Andora rally today.

The accident happened on the opening stage of the rally near the village of Testico in Italy when Kubica's Super 2000 Skoda Fabia swiped a wall and hit a crash barrier. It was the first time Kubica — who miraculously survived a horror crash when his BMW Sauber was destroyed in a high speed impact in the Canadian Grand Prix in 2007 — had driven the new S2000 car in competition, though he has gathered a significant amount of rallying experience in the past.

It's understood Kubica was trapped in the car for more than an hour before specialist extraction equipment could get to the scene of the crash. Once freed from the car, he was airlifted to the Santa Corona Hospital in Pietra Ligure where Kubica underwent surgery. Again, it's understood doctors are focusing their efforts on his injured hand.

It's natural to assume Kubica's injuries will keep him out of the opening grand prix in Bahrain on March 13; it's likely Renault will turn to reserve driver Bruno Senna to fill in in the short term. The team is scheduled to join the rest of the teams — including Bathgate's Paul di Resta and his Force India team — at the second F1 test at Jerez this week.

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Jim McGill