Road back to F1 ’not so long now’ - Kubica

Robert Kubica has taken yet another step on his long road back to formula one, by winning the Citta di Bassano rally in northern Italy.

"I still have a long road in front of me," the former BMW and Renault driver said afterwards.

"But this shows the road is not as long as we thought," added Kubica, referring to his extended recovery from an horror rally crash in early 2011.

The main problem for the 27-year-old now is the mobility of his right arm.

Turning a steering wheel inside the narrow confines of a single seater is currently not possible for Kubica.

But his arm surgeon Igor Rossello is confident.

"Currently, we estimate his recovery at 50 per cent," he told the Polish source Gwizdek24.

"I assume that we will make it back to 75 to 80 per cent, which would be quite sufficient to drive a formula one car," added Rossello.

"I have spoken with his manager Daniele Morelli, who is as excited about his progress as I am," he said.

"I am convinced that it (returning to F1) is possible, although the recovery can often take many months and years."