Kamui Kobayashi will again take the role of Toyota test driver while also competing in the GP2 series. The Japanese racer, who admits he once wanted to be a stand up comedian, is naturally looking forward to the season ahead…
What are your thoughts entering your second year as third driver with Toyota Racing?
“I’m really pleased to be continuing with the team and I’m looking forward to the challenge of developing the TF109. It will be another busy season for me because I will be racing in GP2 Asia and the GP2 Series as well as being third driver with Toyota but I am young and I love driving racing cars so it’s no problem for me. This is an important year for me because I want to enjoy success in GP2 as this is the perfect stepping stone for a career in Formula One. I don’t know what the future will hold but I will fight all the way this year, never giving up and always giving everything I can.”
How do you find life as a Formula One driver?
“It’s great fun but it is also very tiring. I have to say, being a Formula One driver is not what I expected when I was a small boy because it is about more than just driving and working on the car; there are so many other tasks that I need to do. It’s obvious to me now but when I was a young boy I just assumed racing drivers spent their days only racing cars! The time you actually spend driving the car is only 5-10% of the year. The rest of the time is taken up with training, team meetings for the development of the car, PR and various other activities. These are the things that make up the overall life of a Formula One driver.
From a private point of view, nothing much has changed for me - except I am even busier than ever! As a Formula One driver for Toyota and a GP2 racer, there is plenty of work to keep me busy but I enjoy it.”
3 users commented in " Kamui Kobayashi Q&A "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackSurely there are opportunities to raise sponsorships for Kamui.
As a marketing consultant, I believe thet NOW os the time to strike - especially in Japan. ahis profile is curremtly high, he has displayed the skill and tenacity of a true racer and Toyota would probably be hard pressed to find someone with those attributes who would come so cheap (at the beginning of his career).
If I was a Japanese consultant, I would undertake the project for free - it would provide an enormous opportunity to raise the consultant’s profile, provide the potential for future work and give Kamui the chance he obviously so deserves.
Outstanding drives in his first two F1 GPs. Toyota pulling out of F1, while not good news on the one hand, could be a blessing for Kamui. There will be teams interested in him, ones that hopefully have a greater understanding and committment to F1. Torra Rosso would be an ideal next step; they have the same flair and drive (no pun intended) as Kamui. I believe he has the potential to be the most succesful Japense F1 driver so far. Good luck.
Kobayashi kun is soooo cute!!
You can’t deny one of many pleasures of girls watching F1 is to appreciate the male drivers!
This season is gonna be sooooo much fun to watch!!
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