Kubica joins ART DTM effort

Sam Hall
Saturday 15 February 2020 09:37

Former Formula One driver will race in the German Touring Car DTM championship in 2020 while also maintaining his role as reserve driver for the Alfa Romeo Formula One team.

Kubica has enjoyed a varied career in motorsport. A large portion of his career has been spent in open-wheel Formula care, including five full seasons in Formula One, but Kubica also has experience of competing in rally championships, notably the World Rally Championship.

A rallying accident in 2011 left Kubica with major injuries to his right arm but the Pole managed to make his Formula One return in 2019 with Williams.

Williams chose not to continue with Kubica for 2020 but the Pole will now spearhead the DTM assault from ART - the successful F2, F3 and Formula Renault Eurocup team making their debut in the championship.

"The DTM has appealed to me for a long time. I'm really looking forward to starting this new chapter," said Kubica. "I believe the DTM is one of the strongest and best race series in the world. I immediately felt at home in the BMW M4 DTM at the test.

"ART Grand Prix has been a big name on the international motor racing scene for years. I am sure we can achieve a lot together in the DTM."

The ART deal could have been written into Kubica's Alfa Romeo contract with team principal Fred Vasseur having founded the ART outfit.

BMW motorsport boss Jens Marquardt was pleased with adding more Formula One talent to the DTM grid

"This is really great news for the DTM," said Marquardt. "After the test in Spain last December, Robert Kubica made no secret of the fact that he could imagine a future in the DTM.

"It is great that ART Grand Prix is now allowing him the opportunity to contest the 2020 season in a BMW M4 DTM. Robert showed during the test that he is very good in a DTM car. He is a real asset to the series."