Fond memories of Bahrain for Kubica

The 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix, held at the 'Bahrain International Circuit', represented a cornerstone in the motor racing career of Robert Kubica. That weekend, for the first time, he was involved in a Grand Prix - as the BMW Sauber F1 Team's Friday driver. Since then, many things have changed.

For the 2007 season, the 22-year-old Pole has been promoted and now is a GP regular for the Munich and Hinwil based squad. This weekend, he will contest his first race at the 5.412-kilometre track - and Robert is confident when it comes to the 2007 Bahrain GP, partly because of the successful debut he made there in 2006.

"The Bahrain race in 2006 - the season opener - was my first outing during a GP weekend as a Friday driver," recalls Kubica. "It was a really great feeling." In the desert of Bahrain, the young gun impressed right from the start: In the first free practice session he set the fastest lap time, thus celebrating a truly excellent debut appearance at the pinnacle of motor racing.

Despite the experience of last year and the data the BMW Sauber F1 Team gathered in the tests held in February and March, Robert expects the third Grand Prix of the 2007 season to be anything but boring. "With the new control tyres and their reduced grip, the race promises to bring new challenges. Altogether, Bahrain is a really nice circuit."

Following his difficult start to the season, Robert now is extremely motivated to prove his skills in Bahrain - just as he did last year, in his debut appearance as Formula One driver.