Canaries ERC: Robert Kubica says crash part of learning curve

The Pole's Citroen DS3 RRC was more than a minute in the lead when he damaged the left-rear wheel on SS10 and was unable to continue.

"I was in a fast downhill corner," said Kubica. "The corner was easy flat-out. Then it was heavy braking into a third-gear corner.

"When I the hit brakes, I lost the rear of the car, so I reduced the pressure [on the brake]. If I didn't do this then I would spin and the road was narrow.

"The car went sideways before the corner. I tried to do the corner, but hit the barrier. I could not reduce the speed and hit the rear-left then with the front into the barrier."

Kubica had been struggling for grip at the rear of the Citroen throughout the event.

"Unfortunately, and this is not an excuse," he said, "but when we were in high speed [sections], I was lacking rear grip, especially in the downhill.

"But I should take this into account. I didn't, but I should brake earlier."

Kubica added that he was not pushing hard, despite having been beaten on a stage for the first time on Saturday morning's opener.

"We were just driving our pace, which was not a massive attack," he said. "We were not pushing really hard.

"It's experience, it shouldn't happen, but it can. Even little mistakes cost a lot in rallying.

"It has been a very good weekend for us, we have done good testing and stages, even on the first stage this morning we were OK and not pushing.

"Yesterday was a very positive day with a lot of positive experience, but today is completely opposite.

"But it is something where we have to take a step forwards and move forwards and take the experience including the negative experience as well. This is part of the rally.

"Tomorrow we will just concentrate on Portugal and move forward."