Robert Kubica Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Polish motorsport driver Robert Kubica has reportedly been involved in secret tests of Ford’s new rally car, leading to speculation that he is preparing to resume his Formula One career.

Ford’s technical director Christian Loriaux said in a statement that Ford rally drivers Petter Solberg and Jari-Matti Latvala, as well as an unnamed driver who does not want publicity, were involved in testing the new car. The third driver was widely reported to be Mr Kubica, who has been out of motor racing since he was involved in a horrific crash that caused his right forearm to be partially severed while competing at the Ronde di Andora rally, in February 2011.

Speaking about the unnamed driver, Mr Loriaux said, “He arrived at his own expense and worked diligently. Before the tests, he told me he did not know if he could do it physically, but it turned out that it was not a problem for him.”

However even if Mr Kubica did take part in the tests, two-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso said he is still unsure if the Polish driver will ever make a comeback.

“It’s very hard to say whether Robert will return to 100 percent fitness and be able to race again in Formula One,” he told September’s edition of F1 Racing magazine.

“Now and again we speak and I know how much it hurts him to be so far away from what has always been his world. He has to keep calm and think first and foremost about recovering total functionality of his body, then he can think again about racing,” he added.