Kubica turns down WEC drive with Manor

Editor

Robert Kubica has decided to turn down the opportunity of racing in the World Endurance Championship in order to fully concentrate on his Formula 1 commitments.

The Williams reserve and development driver took part in two tests during the off-season and was offered the chance to join the EFC TRSM Racing team, but his already hectic schedule means he will not be participating in WEC's 'Super Season'.

“The tests went quite well, but the problem is time,” Kubica said at a press conference organised by Grupa Lotos.  “I will have very little [time], so I decided not to compete in the WEC. 

“I will focus on my role at Williams. During the past 45 days, I’ve spent two days at home and I don’t really know anymore where home is – I’d love to race but I have to be rational.”

CEFC TRSM Racing’s sporting director Graeme Lowdon said he would have loved to have had Kubica on board, but ultimately understands his decision.

“Robert is a good friend of the team — he helped us out in testing and we gave him the chance to see what the car was like,” Lowdon told Motorsport.com.

“If he was looking to race in the WEC, we’d have have been very happy to have him. His duties at Williams are quite extensive, so I think a WEC programme on top would have been an awful lot of work.”