Kamui Kobayashi
Kamui Kobayashi (小林可夢偉, Kobayashi Kamui, born 13 September 1986) is a Japanese racing driver who currently competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Toyota Gazoo Racing, Super Formula for Kids com Team KCMG, and part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 50 Toyota Camry XSE for 23XI Racing. He also serves as team principal for Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe for their FIA World Endurance Championship team. Kobayashi previously competed in Formula One, Formula E, the GP2 Series, and the GP2 Asia Series. He became champion of the FIA World Endurance Championship alongside co-drivers Mike Conway and José María López in the 2019–20 season and in 2021, where he also won the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans.
| Kamui Kobayashi | |
|---|---|
Kobayashi in 2010 | |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Born | 13 September 1986 Amagasaki, Hyōgo, Japan |
| Super Formula career | |
| Debut season | 2011 |
| Current team | KCMG |
| Racing licence | FIA Platinum |
| Car number | 7 |
| Former teams | Team LeMans |
| Starts | 62 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 6 |
| Poles | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 5 |
| Best finish | 6th in 2015 & 2019 |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Active years | 2009–2012, 2014 |
| Teams | Toyota, Sauber, Caterham |
| Car number | 10 |
| Entries | 76 (75 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 1 |
| Career points | 125 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 1 |
| First entry | 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix |
| FIA World Endurance Championship career | |
| Years active | 2016 – present |
| Teams | Toyota Gazoo Racing |
| Starts | 54 |
| Championships | 2 (2019–20, 2021) |
| Wins | 16 |
| Poles | 19 |
| Fastest laps | 10 |
| Best finish | 1st in 2019–20, 2021 |
| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |
| Years | 2013, 2016–2023 |
| Teams | AF Corse, Toyota Gazoo Racing |
| Best finish | 1st in LMH (2021) |
| Class wins | 1 |
| Previous series | |
| 2017–18 2017 2008–09 2006–07 2005 2004–05 2004 2004 2004 | Super GT Formula E GP2 Series Formula 3 Euro Series Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 Formula Renault 2.0 Italia FR2000 Germany Asian Formula Renault FR2000 Netherlands |
| Championship titles | |
| 2021 2019–20 2008–09 2005 2005 | FIA World Endurance Championship FIA World Endurance Championship GP2 Asia Series Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 Formula Renault 2.0 Italia |
Kobayashi is the third FIA world champion from Japan after Toshi Arai and Kazuki Nakajima, and became the third Asian-born driver after countrymen Aguri Suzuki and Takuma Satō to score a Formula One podium finish at the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix.