Kubica jumping ship into Rallying?

Could BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica be about to leave the F1 circuit in order to try his hand as a rally driver in 2010?

The Pole currently in his third full formula 1 season lies 15th in the drivers standings with just two points that came from finishing 7th in Turkey last month. This season is an entire world away from the one experienced by Kubica in 2008 which saw the Pole win his maiden grand prix in Canada alongside six other podiums ensuring he was in the running for the world Championship alongside Felipe Massa and eventual winner Lewis Hamiltion until the last two races.

Kubica, who admits being a big fan of rallying told British F1 racing magazine that "there is a high possibility that i'll be in some rallies. I've had a rally car for five or six years and used to drive it quite a lot"

The Pole went on to say that he enjoyed watching the sport and respected those that took part. "To be on the limit, to fight for tenths of a second on roads lined with trees...I know what big balls these guys have - in racing, we know every corner and every kerb. But rallying is different"
Kubica cut short committing himself to a future in rally after F1 insisting that, it depended what stage of career he was at. However with the Polish driver competing in what is likely to be his most unsuccessful season in F1 could a year in the World Rally Championship be the right move for Robert?

If Kubica did decide to jump ship and attempt a season on the rally circuit it would certainly be a shock move and one that no one could have predicted. However could anyone blame his decision?

The 2009 season has seen a rapid demise of many teams, caught out by the technical changes the cars have had to endure, BMW Sauber are no exception. After two season's as a top three constructor (2nd with 101pts in 2007 and 3rd with 135pts in 2008) the German team find themselves placed eighth out of ten constructors, with only Torro Rosso and Force India behind them.

One man who is certain to hit the rally circuit this season is former world champion Kimi Raikkonen. Could he also see his career in the WRC come 2010?

The Ferrari driver who picked up the first podium of the season with second place in Hungary at the weekend is due to compete in his home country Rally of Finland on Thursday. All eyes will be on the "monosyllabic Finn" to see if his performances can cut it in the rally world.

Whether Kubica or Raikkonen do make the jump from one motersport world to another remains to be seen, we just have to watch this space at the minute, bigger question marks of course lay over a fact of whether they could succeed at such a level that surely offers too many different challenges.

One fact is certain however. It would take a super human effort for the F1 pair to beat five time and current Rally World Champion Sebastien Loeb. The Michael Schumacher of world rally! Loeb currently lies second in the RWC with five victories out of eight rounds already under his belt. Good luck Kimi!