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Kubica can surpass Raikkonen's WRC achievements - Loeb

Sebastien Loeb is confident Robert Kubica can surpass Kimi Raikkonen's achievements and establish himself as a frontrunner in the World Rally Championship

Raikkonen switched from Formula 1 to the WRC full-time in 2010, but despite flashes of speed he failed to meet with consistent or notable success.

After two years the Finn elected to return to F1 with Lotus, for which he has since won twice. He currently lies second in this year's world championship.

Loeb feels that Kubica can outshine Raikkonen should he opt for a full-time move into the WRC.

The Pole has shown great speed in a variety of European Rally Championship and WRC outings this year - including leading ERC events and running second before retiring in the WRC2 class of Rally Portugal - but has also crashed several times.

Kubica's rally to recovery

Asked if Kubica could match Raikkonen, Loeb said: "I'm sure he will be faster because, unlike Kimi, he takes things very seriously and he wants to be there.

"Kimi was good at the start but he never improved like he wanted, and then he went back to F1 and began winning again.

"Now Robert, I think, is really doing it seriously. He's working to improve and I'm sure if he sticks to it he will be fast.

"He needs experience to stay on the road a bit more, because he's doing a few mistakes at the moment, but he has shown very good speed."

Asked if Kubica could be a success in the WRC, Loeb added: "You never know. It's a question of seconds, and little seconds at the end.

"It's difficult to say exactly, but he really seems to have the feeling to be at the top, so I'm sure he could be good."

Loeb insisted he has no intention to add to his planned four WRC outings in 2013, saying he has "enough races and testing" to make more rallies unfeasible.

Alongside commitments in FIA GTs and the Porsche Supercup, the nine-time WRC champion will in this year's Pikes Peak hillclimb in a Peugeot 208 T16.

The French firm unveiled Loeb's livery for the June 30 event on Monday.

Kubica's next rally outing is in this weekend's ERC round in Corsica.

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