Kubica returns to his roots: back to karting

Robert Kubica has a busy winter. Right after the finale of the 2008 F1 season, the Polish driver took a new challenge and set up his own team in karting. Instead of having well-deserved holidays after finishing in fourth place in the Drivers' Championship and contributing to third place for BMW Sauber F1 Team in Constructors' Championship, the 24-year-old not only joined the squad's December test drives in Jerez, but also went back to his roots and tested the new karting chassis for his team.

"I've always enjoyed driving karts. It was a great fun to compete in karting - lots of competition and not so much politics," recalls Kubica. Now he re-established his partnership with Birel - the company for which he scored fourth places in European and World Championships in 2000, right before switching to single-seaters.

The project also involves Robert's active participation in the management of the team which will take part in all major international events. Thus Robert follows the footsteps of World Champions Fernando Alonso and Kimi Räikkönen, who run their own teams in karting and Formula 3 respectively.

"I wished to do something active in the world of kart racing, the discipline which allowed me to stand out and take the path leading to F1, and which I still love," says Robert.