Kamui Kobayashi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kamui Kobayashi
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| 小林可夢偉 | |
Kobayashi at the 2024 6 Hours of Fuji
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| Born | 13 September 1986 Amagasaki, Hyōgo, Japan
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| Employer |
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| Title | Team Principal |
| FIA World Endurance Championship career | |
| Debut season | 2013 |
| Current team | Toyota |
| Racing licence |  FIA Platinum |
| Former teams | AF Corse |
| Starts | 74 |
| Championships | 2 (2019–20, 2021) |
| Wins | 17 |
| Podiums | 46 |
| Poles | 20 |
| Fastest laps | 14 |
| Best finish | 1st in 2019–20 (LMP1), 2021 (LMH) |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  Japanese |
| Active years | 2009–2012, 2014 |
| Teams | Toyota, BMW Sauber, 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 |
| Super Formula career | |
| Debut season | 2011 |
| Current team | KCMG |
| Car no. | 7 |
| Former teams | Le Mans |
| Starts | 75 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 7 |
| Poles | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 6 |
| Best finish | 6th in 2015, 2019 |
| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |
| Years | 2013, 2016–2024 |
| Teams | AF Corse, Toyota |
| Best finish | 1st (2021) |
| Class wins | 1 (2021) |
| Previous series | |
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| Championship titles | |
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Kamui Kobayashi (Japanese: 小林可夢偉, Hepburn: Kobayashi Kamui, born 13 September 1986) is a Japanese racing driver and team manager. He races in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) for Toyota and in Super Formula for KCMG. He is also the Team Principal for Toyota's WEC team.
Kobayashi is a two-time World Endurance Champion and won the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 2021. He also won the 24 Hours of Daytona twice, in 2019 and 2020. Before focusing on endurance racing, he competed in Formula One from 2009 to 2014.
He is one of only three Japanese drivers to ever stand on a Formula One podium. He achieved this at his home race, the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix.
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Early Racing Career
Kobayashi was born in Amagasaki, Japan. His father owns a sushi restaurant. He started his racing journey in 1996 at age nine in kart racing. He was very successful, winning four karting championships in seven years.
In 2004, he joined the Toyota Driver Academy, which helped him move into open-wheel racing. He started in Formula Renault, winning championships in both the Italian and European series in 2005.
He then moved up to the Formula 3 Euro Series in 2006. In 2007, he became a test driver for the Toyota Formula One team while still competing in Formula 3, where he finished fourth.
After his success in Formula 3, Kobayashi moved to the GP2 Series. This series is often the last step for drivers before they reach Formula One. He won the GP2 Asia Series championship in the 2008-2009 season.
Formula One Career (2009–2014)
Toyota (2009)
Kobayashi got his first chance to drive in a Formula One race weekend at the 2009 Japanese Grand Prix. He drove in practice because the team's main driver, Timo Glock, was sick.
He made his official F1 race debut at the 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix. He qualified in 11th place and finished 9th. During the race, he famously defended his position against Jenson Button, who was about to become world champion. Button later joked that Kobayashi was "absolutely crazy, very aggressive."
In the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi, he finished sixth, scoring his first F1 points.
Sauber (2010–2012)
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After Toyota left F1, Kobayashi signed with the Sauber team for the 2010 season. The start of the season was tough, with several retirements due to car problems. However, he soon began to score points regularly.
Kobayashi became known for his exciting and aggressive overtaking style. TV commentator Martin Brundle said, "He gets to the normal braking point and then... just sails past people!" He finished the 2010 season in 12th place with 32 points.
In 2011, he continued with Sauber. He scored a career-best fifth place at the Monaco Grand Prix. He finished the season 12th again, this time with 30 points.
A Podium at Home
The 2012 season was his best in Formula One. He scored points in many races, including a fourth-place finish in Germany.
The highlight of his F1 career came at the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix. He qualified in third place and drove a brilliant race to finish third. This made him the first Japanese driver in 22 years to get a podium finish at his home Grand Prix. The crowd cheered loudly for their local hero.
Despite his success, Sauber announced that Kobayashi would not be racing for them in 2013. He finished the season in 12th place with 60 points.
Caterham (2014)
After a year away, Kobayashi returned to Formula One in 2014 with the Caterham F1 team. The car was not very competitive, so he couldn't fight for points. His best result was 13th place at the Malaysian Grand Prix.
The team faced financial problems, and Kobayashi was replaced for one race. He returned for a few more races before the team eventually left the sport. This was his last season in Formula One.
Endurance and Formula Racing
World Endurance Championship (WEC)
In 2013, Kobayashi started racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship with the AF Corse team, driving a Ferrari.
In 2016, he joined the main Toyota Gazoo Racing team in the top LMP1 class. He quickly found success, winning his first WEC race at the 2016 6 Hours of Fuji. In 2017, he set the all-time fastest lap record at the famous Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans.
Kobayashi, along with teammates Mike Conway and José María López, won the WEC world championship in the 2019–20 season and again in 2021. Their biggest achievement was winning the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In December 2021, Kobayashi became the Team Principal of the Toyota WEC team, managing the team while also continuing to drive.
Super Formula
Since 2015, Kobayashi has also been competing in the Super Formula championship in Japan, one of the top single-seater racing series in the world. He has raced for Team LeMans and currently drives for KCMG. He has achieved several podium finishes in the series.
A Trip to NASCAR
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In 2023, Kobayashi tried something new by racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. He drove for the 23XI Racing team at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. He returned for another race in 2024 at the Circuit of the Americas.
Personal Life
Kobayashi's first name, Kamui, is named after a divine being from the mythology of the Ainu people of Japan. The name was chosen to mean "enabling great dreams."
In 2013, he received the Outstanding Achievement in Sport Award at The Asian Awards in London.
Images for kids
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Kobayashi crashed into the "Wall of Champions" at the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix.
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Kobayashi at the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix.
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Kobayashi testing his Sauber car before the 2012 season.
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Kobayashi at the 2012 United States Grand Prix.
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Kobayashi's Ferrari at the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans.
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See also
In Spanish: Kamui Kobayashi para niños
