Kubica: The worst time to stop

Robert Kubica admits that now would be the worst time to call time on his fledgling rally career.

The Pole revealed last month that he was considering other motorsport options in 2016, including a return to circuit racing, after two largely frustrating seasons in the premier World Rally Car category.

But having now tackled most rounds of the championship rounds twice, Kubica said he would be reluctant to throw away what he had learned.

He finished ninth on the season ending Wales Rally GB last weekend in his privately run Ford Fiesta RS, but felt he could have claimed a top five without set-backs that included a broken differential and a costly puncture.

"To be honest I think it would be the worst time to stop." he said. "In the last five or six events I have felt more like a mature rally driver. Many things that were scaring me in the past are now normal for me because I went through them more than once.

"When you feel more comfortable in the car you drive better, you drive quicker and I feel more like a rally driver than ever. The experience you gain on each rally, even though you have to wait 12 months, counts for a lot."

Kubica hasn’t ruled out a return to the WRC next year but is adamant he won’t be back, even for the opening round only, without proper backing and preparation.

"Monte-Carlo is a rally you have to prepare for properly. It requires a lot of testing in different conditions and that requires a lot of budget. First of all I need to see if I will have this budget to prepare properly. If I am able to prepare properly I will be there. If not I will stay at home," he said.