Kubica happy to silence doubters with Le Mans win
LE MANS (France): Robert Kubica said his triumph at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Sunday, 14 years after a near-fatal rally crash that partially severed his right forearm, should erase any doubts about his capacity to compete in motor racing.
The 40-year-old former Formula One driver became the first Polish overall winner of the French endurance race in a car shared with Yifei Ye and Phil Hanson.
"I don't think my limitations are limiting behind the wheel. I think if someone had doubts in the past I showed those doubts should not be in place," he told the BBC.
Kubica, the first Polish Formula One driver, won the Canadian Grand Prix and finished fourth overall in 2008. He was linked with a move to Ferrari before the crash sidelined him for nearly a year.
He returned to motor racing in 2012, focusing mostly on endurance races, before making a return to Formula One in 2019.
"There was some very extreme quotes of some people which hurt me because I am the first one who would never like to be back just for marketing or a being a PR muppet," Kubica said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Richards strike gives USA spot in Gold Cup quarters
AUSTIN: The USA booked their place in the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup after a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Austin on Thursday. After a 5-0 win over a struggling Trinidad and Tobago in their opener, guest team Saudi Arabia presented a much tougher nut to crack but a 63rd-minute goal from Chris Richards was enough for the three points. After a lifeless first half with the Saudis sitting deep and the USA lacking penetration, the game picked up after the interval. Crystal Palace defender Richards went close with a header from a Jack McGlynn cross which was well saved by Nawaf Al Aqidi. The breakthrough came when Sebastian Berhalter whipped in a free-kick from deep which, in a crowded box, Richards met with a half-volley on the slide which flashed home. There were clashes near the end of the game when USA substitute Tyler Adams was pushed over and the French coach of the Saudi team Herve Renard rushed on to the field to separate the players. USA coach Mauricio Pochettino also entered the field to pull apart players in the melee. After a run of four straight losses going into the tournament, Pochettino's side showed solidity and organisation even if they lacked in the flair department. Richards said the game was simply about securing progress to the next round. "We needed it tonight. You know, it was a tough game against a tough opponent, props to them. But that's CONCACAF for you. Sometimes you've got to get physical, sometimes you gotta get nasty, I think that's exactly what we did tonight," he added. "We had a few problems in the first half building out, they adjusted well so, at halftime we said we just needed to get the right people on the ball and I think that's what we did," he added. The USA face Haiti on Sunday in the final game of Group D which they lead on six points. The Saudis are second on three points with Haiti and Trinidad on a point each.
Sinar Daily
4 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
Real Madrid star Mbappe released from hospital
Mbappe, who is in the USA at the Club World Cup, had what the club called "an acute case of gastroenteritis" and was taken in for tests and treatment. 20 Jun 2025 11:16am French striker Mbappe missed his team's Club World Cup opener against Al-Hilal on Wednesday, a 1-1 draw in Xabi Alonso's first game at the helm. - AFP file photo MIAMI - Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe has been released from hospital in the United States after suffering a stomach bug, the Spanish giants said on Thursday. Mbappe, who is in the USA at the Club World Cup, had what the club called "an acute case of gastroenteritis" and was taken in for tests and treatment. French striker Mbappe missed his team's Club World Cup opener against Al-Hilal on Wednesday, a 1-1 draw in Xabi Alonso's first game at the helm. - AFP file photo "Our player Kylian Mbappe was discharged from hospital this afternoon and has returned to the Real Madrid training camp," Los Blancos said in a statement. "Mbappe will continue with specific medical treatment and will gradually return to the team's activities," they added. French striker Mbappe missed his team's Club World Cup opener against Al-Hilal on Wednesday, a 1-1 draw in Xabi Alonso's first game at the helm. Alonso said on Tuesday the 26-year-old forward had been "feeling a little better" after illness in the run up to the match in Miami. Madrid B-team player Gonzalo Garcia, 21, started in Mbappe's stead and opened the scoring for Real Madrid against their Saudi Arabian opponents. Madrid's second match in Group H is on Sunday June 22 against Mexican side Pachuca in Charlotte. Mbappe finished as the European Golden Shoe winner in his first season at Real Madrid with 31 goals in La Liga, but Los Blancos finished the season without a major trophy. - AFP
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-Botafogo stun PSG 1-0 at Club World Cup
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Brazil's Botafogo stunned European champions Paris St Germain 1-0 on Thursday to throw Group B at the Club World Cup wide open. PSG dominated possession at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena but Botafogo's defence stood tall to withstand waves of attacks from the French side in the first competitive meeting between the two clubs. A turnover near midfield generated an opportunity for Igor Jesus, whose deflected shot left PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma flatfooted and only able to watch as the ball skipped into the net in the 36th minute. PSG continued to be the aggressors in the second half as Botafogo were content to protect their lead and try to capitalize on the break. PSG, who had scored 19 goals in their last five matches, had the ball in the net in the 79th minute but the goal was chalked off for offside and Botafogo held for the shock win. (Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
