SS10 & 11: Super special dramas

Robert Kubica rolled in the first pass through tonight’s two super special stages at León’s race circuit.

The Pole, lying fourth on his first visit to the rally, crashed his Ford Fiesta RS shortly after the start of the 2.21km test. After powering down the opening straight, Kubica braked late for a tightening hairpin, missed the turn-in point and hit a concrete bollard.

The impact gently tipped the car onto its roof and the stage was immediately stopped. Both Kubica and co-driver Maciej Szczepaniak were unhurt but the windscreen was smashed and the front of the car was damaged.

Rescue vehicles righted the car and Kubica slowly completed the stage, which had been immediately yellow flagged for Thierry Neuville who started alongside the ex-Formula 1 driver.

Kubica wanted to start the second pass but officials prevented him from doing so and he set off to drive back to the León service park. It is not known what penalty he will receive for missing the final stage.

After the stage was restarted, Chris Atkinson went off at exactly the same point. Rather than trying to turn into the bend, the Australian ploughed straight on through a series of bollards. Fortunately for him, the bollards were plastic rather than the concrete one that Kubica hit.

“The guys said the Tarmac was slippery, there’s oil or something on that one corner. I saw the concrete bollard and went for the plastic ones. I’m glad I did!” joked Atkinson.