Poland's Kubica returns as World Endurance season kicks off

Robert Kubica is set to return to the track this weekend as the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) begins its 14th season at Italy’s Imola circuit.

Robert Kubica (left), Yifei Ye (centre) and Phil Hanson celebrate on the podium after winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 2025.

Photo: Lukas Raich, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Kubica will race for AF Corse alongside his returning teammates, Chinese driver Yifei Ye and Britain's Phil Hanson – the same line-up as last season, when the team finished second in the championship overall.

The privately-run Ferrari squad had a landmark 2025 campaign, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans – making Kubica the first Polish driver ever to stand on the top step of the podium in the sport's most prestigious race.

The achievement places him in rare company: only Fernando Alonso of Spain and Australia's Mark Webber have won races in both WEC and Formula 1.

AF Corse also claimed the FIA World Cup for Hypercar Teams last season.

You know what time it is 🙌

This weekend @autodromoimola is the scene of our 2026 Season Opener! 🇮🇹

Who's ready for ROUND 1?#WEC #Ferrari #6HImola pic.twitter.com/LULMF6ZaLp

— FIA World Endurance Championship (@FIAWEC) April 13, 2026

The 2026 WEC calendar consists of eight rounds, starting at Imola and concluding in Bahrain on 7 November.

Seventeen Hypercar teams are entered, with Porsche absent from the grid compared to last season.

(ał)

Source: PAP