WEC: Kobayashi promoted to Toyota LMP1 lineup

Jack Hunsley · Feb 4, 2016

Former F1 driver Kamui Kobayashi has been confirmed as Alexander Wurz's replacement in the Toyota LMP1 squad for the 2016 season.

Kobayashi will race alongside Mike Conway and Stephane Sarrazin for the 2016 season, as the trio intend to make up for Toyota's lackluster 2015 campaign with the all new TS050 HYBRID car.

Since his last appearance in Formula 1 in 2014 Kobayashi has been keeping sharp by combining a testing role at Toyota with a seat in the Japanese Super Formula series, where he placed 5th overall last season. Meanwhile he came very close to replacing Nakajima for the Le Mans 24 Hours after his fellow countryman recovered from a heavy crash sustained in a practice session for the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.

Kobayashi has previously raced in the WEC of course, having driven for the Ferrari AF Corse outfit following his dismissal from the Sauber F1 team following the 2012 season.

In addition to announcing Kobayashi's promotion, Toyota also have revealed their new liveries for Toyota GAZOO Racing's various racing endeavors, with the team abandoning their blue liveries in favour of a red, white and black colour scheme

Matej Lakota · Feb 4, 2016

Well, Toyota will be my favorite P1 car this year ...

Lorenzo Bonder · Feb 4, 2016

My favourite Eastern driver going full time in 2016!?

TTupsi · Feb 4, 2016

I just hope Audi and Porsche change their liveries too so we don't have three teams with white-black-red liveries..

El-ahrairah · Feb 4, 2016

Well this has encouraged me to go to more WEC races this year. Already going to two of them at less cost than going to one Grand Prix. Lol

Colin Knowles · Feb 4, 2016

Every time I hear his name I just think about 'the usual suspects' !!

Classic film

not sure about the driver

R.J. O'Connell · Feb 4, 2016

The story goes that Kobayashi really wanted to stay in WEC the first time around. With Toyota, he now has a proper homecoming, and a chance to test his abilities sharing a car with an experienced driver like Sarrazin.

Ole Marius Myrvold · Feb 4, 2016

R.J. O'Connell said:
The story goes that Kobayashi really wanted to stay in WEC the first time around.

Really? All that I've read (on Autosport) was how unimpressed he was with GT cars, how he couldn't wait to have a chance on F1 again etc. I mean, he ended up using crowdfunding money to buy a seat in Caterham instead of continuing as a factory Ferrari driver.