Formula One news

Kobayashi signs as Toyota's new test driver

The Toyota Formula 1 team announced that F3 Euroseries driver Kamui Kobayashi will be the team's new test and reserve driver for the upcoming season. Kobayashi will replace Franck Montagny at the Cologne based team.

The 21-year-old from Japan has been associated with Toyota since 2001, and he first raced single-seaters in the Esso Formula Toyota Championship in Japan in 2002.

Kobayashi is part of Toyota's Young Drivers Programma (TDP). The TDP scheme, run by Toyota Motor Corporation, is designed to help young drivers achieve their ambitions to compete at the top in motorsport and Kamui's new role comes soon after news of fellow TDP member Kazuki Nakajima's 2008 race drive with Williams.

Commenting on his new job Kobayashi said: "The TDP scheme has been very supportive of me during my career and I am very grateful for all that support. This is a great challenge for me and I am very excited about becoming a Formula 1 driver. Since the start of my career I have dreamed of reaching Formula 1 and to have the chance to join Panasonic Toyota Racing as third driver is a fantastic opportunity for me.

"My first tests for the team last winter went well but I still have things to learn about Formula 1 and it will be a great experience for me to test more regularly for the team. The role of third driver is very important as I will be helping a lot with the development of the car throughout the year. I am sure I will learn a lot about Formula 1 cars and hopefully this will help me in my future career but for now I am focused on helping the team move forward."

Kobayashi has progressed through the single-seater ranks in Europe after making a name for himself in Japanese junior racing. With TDP support, Kamui moved to Europe in 2004 and spent two years in the Formula Renault Eurocup and Italian Formula Renault Championship, winning both crowns in 2005 - a title double only achieved previously by one other driver.

From there he stepped up to Formula 3, the traditional breeding ground for future Formula 1 stars, and in his two seasons in the Euro Series he proved to be a formidable competitor, showing all the speed and commitment necessary to become the new Panasonic Toyota Racing third driver.

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