Sport | Motorsport
Kubica on right track for finale in Abu Dhabi
Polish confident of adapting to new circuit
- By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter, Gulf News
- Published: 00:00 October 25, 2009
Abu Dhabi: Polish ace Robert Kubica, who will be driving a BMW-Sauber car for the last time at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix here over the weekend, feels he does not need much time to get used to new tracks.
Kubica, who finished an impressive fourth with 75 points in the 2008 Driver's Championship, is currently in 13th place with 17 points and will start with Renault next year after BMW announced its withdrawal from F1.
Read special report on preview to Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Looking ahead to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Kubica said: "I have not been to the Abu Dhabi circuit so far. As we do not have a simulator I only know the track from the internet and from a couple of presentations. The track looks very interesting. The facilities and the buildings around the circuit especially seem to be outstanding."
Kubica, who won his first and only F1 Grand Prix race so far in Canada last year, said he had already experienced new circuits in Valencia and Singapore.
Quick learner
"However, before having done the first laps on the track with a Formula One car, it is really difficult to judge the circuit itself. But, of course, I know this situation from the past. In 2008 both Valencia and Singapore were new on the calendar.
"Fortunately, I consider myself a driver who does not need a lot of track time to be on a good pace straight away. I guess that a lot of cars will be out on the track on Friday in order to understand the track and to learn as much as possible," he said.
Kubica, who has a total of nine podium finishes since he made his F1 debut in the Hungarian Grand Prix for BMW, is hoping that BMW would be back in the circuit next year.
"I am really looking forward to going there [Abu Dhabi]. It will be my last race for this team, but I hope very much to see them on the grid again next year," said Kubica, who is Poland's first Formula One driver.
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