BMW Sauber Fi Driver Kubica Replaces Villeneuve

MEDIA RELEASE
2nd August 2006

BMW Sauber Fi Test Driver Kubica Replaces Villeneuve In Budapest

The BMW Sauber F1 Team will take their place on the grid for the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest this coming weekend with a different driver line-up.

After his accident at the German Grand Prix last weekend Canadian driver Jacques Villeneuve will not be racing. Test and reserve driver Robert Kubica will take his place.
He will be the first Pole ever to contest a Formula One grand prix.

BMW Motorsport director Mario Theissen said: "Jacques has informed us that he is not ready to race after his Hockenheim accident. Robert has made an outstanding impression with the team so far, both in testing and on the Friday of the race weekends. Now we will see how he performs in a Formula One race. However, we have not yet made a decision on who will drive the car either in the remaining races of the season or next year."

Twenty-one-year-old Kubica is looking forward to the new challenge. "I had prepared myself for a whole year without actually competing in any races, so I'm even happier to get this opportunity. And I'm proud that the BMW Sauber F1 Team has such confidence in me. I'm determined not to let them down."

Kubica Biography

Robert Kubica (pronounced "KOO-beet-sah")
Date/place of birth: 7 December 1984/Krakow (POL)
Website: www.kubica.pl

Career highlights

1995-1997: six titles in Polish kart championships (juniors)

1998: 1st place Italian Kart Championship (juniors); 2nd place European Kart Championship (juniors); 1st place Monaco Kart Cup

1999: 1st place Italian Kart Championship (juniors); 1st place German Kart Championship (juniors); 1st place Monaco Kart Cup; winner of the Margutti Trophy

2000: 4th place European Kart Championship (Formula A); 4th place World Kart Championship (Formula A)

2001: first races in Italian Formula Renault 2000

2002: 2nd place Italian Formula Renault 2000, four wins

2003: first races in the Formula 3 Euro Series, one win; 1st place Formula 3 Masters in Sardinia

2004: 7th place Formula 3 Euro Series; 2nd place Formula 3 Grand Prix Macau

2005: 1st place World Series by Renault, four wins; 2nd place Formula 3 Grand Prix Macau

2006: test and reserve driver for the BMW Sauber F1 Team

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