Eryk Melgwa (TVP Sport): It's great to see you smiling after such a long time, tell us please in what form you're in.
Kubica: Let's say in good form, but of course I was a little bit better before the accident. After the accident I was in very bad form and it was tough but fortunately, or maybe that's a bad word, finally I can be back behind the wheel doing what I've been doing all my life and which is my passion. Why rallies? I've chosen rallies to start this active phase of my rehabilitation because on one side they're easier logistically, on the other hand from a pure driving point of view they demand more concentration, things happen much quicker here, it's less predictable and there's much more improvisation taking place here compared to track racing. Hence it's good for me at this stage of getting back.
I think not many realize what you've been through in the recent months, what does it take to return to the sport after what happened?
- Hard work obviously as things weren't easy but one also needs a lot of luck surely, from having the right people who put you together back in one piece to having nature on your side as the body needs to regenerate properly. I've come a long way and still have a long way to go.
So this being a phase of the rehab for you, how did your body react to the rally car?
- This Subaru I'm driving is an old one with the gear shift placed behind the wheel, we placed it on the left side and that's the only modification we made. It makes things easier for me, it wouldn't be a problem on a track where I could have it on the right side and use it with my right hand, actually I did so already, but as I already said in a rally there's more improvisation as basically you never know what to do. In that sense on a track you kind of develop a mechanism of driving much easier after just a couple of laps. The main aim is to get back to the rythm I had before the accident so times and results aren't really important at the moment, and to be frank also to find, let's say, some byways in my driving style considering my situation. But in this car I'm driving at 95% so I don't feel much limited.
I can now spend my time pleasantly. In a sense more pleasantly than before the accident as now I have more appreciation. The long break and anticipation make your hunger for driving grow, not to say I didn't have this hunger before but when you've something that you're accustomed to on a daily basis one doesn't often fully appreciate it and only does so when one starts missing it.
There aren't many sportsmen who disappeared for a year and a half but all the time had massive support and expectations from the fans, did you feel that support?
- Yes I did, of course. Maybe I'm a person who doesn't really fit today's world, I don't appear that much on the internet, in the media, especially with regard to my personal life and what happened after the accident was my personal life in my opinion. It was a very hard time and I appreciate the real fans from Poland and all over the world, those who are with you in both good and bad days and whose support can be felt. Sorry to all of them as maybe I neglected them a bit but... my priorities were different. Actually the priority was one - to just fight to get as fit as possible but for sure thank you all very much for all your support and it's still needed because...
I think the support will get only bigger now...
- Well... The road is long and twisty. Something like the roads above us now [the interview is being taken in the mountains - swiniodzik]. From reaching the summit in terms of my form and body there's still a long road ahead full of tight corners to conquer. After that summit it will be downhill all the way so I'd like to reach it as soon as possible but believe me, if one tries to come back this long, one or two or three or five months don't really make a difference in the grand scheme of things.
So what this downhill stage will be for you, F1, rallies, regular starts?
- It'll just be a normal life, I mean...
For you a normal life means regular starts.
- Quite. Those who know me will know what I meant, those who don't, won't. Overall and paradoxically, If I'm able to freely do certain things in my daily life then I'll be able to drive a car freely because today my limb can't do, let's say, precise actions but in terms of strength and functionality as far as not-so-precise actions are concerned, I'm ok-ish.
One thing which is a big problem and which prevents me from driving single-seaters, no F1 cars but single-seaters in general, is the problem of rotation and space. I'm fighting with this problem for a year now. The condition you're all seeing me today, I was already in a similar state a year ago. The first rally car I tried after the accident was August last year, so some time passed by. I didn't want to rush my return as I like doing things when I'm confident and I know what I'm doing. Even if I still have problems doing certain daily things I can drive a rally car ably now, not to say fast, but ably and safely.
I have many thoughts but no aims as far as races and rallies and my future are concerned. The aim is one - to return to as good form as I can. When I'm there, I think I'll find a good seat for myself somewhere so that shouldn't be a problem, though never say never. However I don't really know what I'll be doing, it depends on many factors and there is no hurry for any decision now. I'll be really happy if one day I'm in good enough shape to make a decision this way or the other, calmly, being 100% sure that I'm able to do a given task. For now let's take it step by step, week by week and hope that there is progress to come and just let's see how it goes.
I can only say we'll be watching your progress closely, thank you very much.
- Thanks.
