Kamui Kobayashi
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| Kamui Kobayashi | |
| Nationality |  Japanese |
| Date of Birth | September 13, 1986 |
| 2008 GP2 Series | |
| Debut season | 2008 |
| Current team | DAMS |
| Car No. | 10 |
| Starts | 6 |
| Wins | 1 |
| Poles | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 1 |
Kamui Kobayashi (full Kanji: 小林可夢偉) (born September 13, 1986) is a Japanese driver currently competing in the GP2 Series championship. Kobayashi is also a test driver for the Toyota Formula One team.
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[edit] Career
Kamui Kobayashi began his career in motorsport in 1996 when he was nine years old - the Japanese driver finish third in his first season of karting in the SL Takarazuka Tournament Cadet Class. The following seven years, Kobayashi took four karting titles, winning the Toyota SL All Japan Tournament Cadet Class series twice.
In 2004, the Japanese driver signed up for Toyota's Driver Academy and soon began his career in open wheel racing. Kobayashi's next step was Formula Renault, entering the Asian, German, Italian and Dutch championships. The Japanese driver took two races victories in the Italian championship. Kobayashi continued his campaign in the Formula Renault class, entering the Italian and European championships and with six wins in both championships, the Japanese won both titles.
In 2006, Kobayashi entered the Formula Three Euroseries with ASM Formule 3 alongside Paul di Resta, Giedo van der Garde and Sebastian Vettel. He took three podium positions in his debut season, coming eighth in the Drivers' Championship and first in the Rookie's Championship. Kobayashi also entered the Macau Grand Prix and the Ultimate Masters of Formula 3, both of which are annual Formula Three events. Kobayashi started the latter in 10th place and finished the race a place lower in 11th while at the Macau Grand Prix, the Japanese started the race in pole position, however he finished the race in 19th place.
At the beginning of 2007, Kobayashi, along with Kohei Hirate, was named as one of the Toyota Formula One team's test drivers. The Japanese stayed in the F3 Euroseries for the upcoming season and had an impressive start to the season, taking two podiums in the first four rounds, and at the tenth round in Magny-Cours for the Formula One French Grand Prix Formula Three support race Kobayashi took his first race victory in Formula Three. Kobayashi finished fourth in the Drivers' Championship.
On November 16, 2007, it was confirmed that Kobayashi will replace the departing Franck Montagny as the Toyota F1 team's third driver.[1]
Following a successful GP2 Asia Series campaign in early 2008, Kobayashi won his first GP2 Series race in only the second race of the season. After a strong start from pole in the sprint race at the Circuit de Catalunya, Kamui took the chequered flag in first place. This was after a controversial piece of defensive driving from the Japanese driver's former F3 Euroseries team-mate Romain Grosjean after a safety car period. At the end of the pit straight, Kamui attempted a pass on Grosjean. However, the Frenchman moved more than once to defend his position, forcing Kobayashi into evasive action. This resulted in a drive through penalty for the Frenchman, handing the win to Kobayashi.
[edit] Statistics
[edit] Motor racing record
| Season | Series | Team Name | Races | Poles | Wins | Points | Final Placing |
| 2004 | German Formula Renault | Prema Powerteam | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 31st |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italian Formula Renault | Motopark Academy | 17 | 3 | 2 | 134 | 7th | |
| 2005 | Italian Formula Renault | Prema Powerteam | 15 | 4 | 6 | 312 | 1st |
| Formula Renault Eurocup | Prema Powerteam | 16 | 4 | 6 | 157 | 1st | |
| 2006 | Formula Three Euroseries | ASM Formule 3 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 8th |
| 2007 | Formula Three Euroseries | ASM Formule 3 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 59 | 4th |
| 2008 | GP2 Asia Series | DAMS | 10 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 6th |
| 2008 | GP2 Series | DAMS | 6 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 11th* |
* Season in progress.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Pastor Maldonado |
Italian Formula Renault champion 2005 |
Succeeded by Daniel Clos |
| Preceded by Scott Speed |
Eurocup Formula Renault champion 2005 |
Succeeded by Filipe Albuquerque |
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Kobayashi, Kamui |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 13, 1986 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
