Kamui Kobayashi has been racing for Toyota Gazoo Racing within the F.I.A. World Endurance Championship for 9 years, successful the championship twice. He will probably be behind the wheel for the group within the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday.
And since 2022, he has additionally been the group principal. Whereas group leaders like Toto Wolff of Mercedes and Christian Horner of Purple Bull in Formulation 1 got here up as drivers, Kobayashi holds a uncommon twin position on such a high-profile group.
“I used to be clearly fairly stunned as I didn’t count on it,” Kobayashi mentioned of being supplied the position. “I’m proud, and I admire the chance. For certain it’s not simple to be doing issues collectively on the identical time, however on the finish of the day I adjusted and it’s gone properly. I’m not going to do every little thing myself, we now have a number of guys on the group.
“I’m nonetheless passionate for driving quick automobiles as a lot as I can,” he mentioned, joking that he simply wants further time in every day.
“As an alternative of sitting and having espresso, you’re having an additional assembly, however on the finish of the day it’s a part of the job, and I take pleasure in it,” he mentioned. “When you contain so many individuals, and you must determine one factor, the accountability is increased; it’s not simple.”
Below Kobayashi, one among three drivers of the No. 7 automotive, the sister No. 8 crew gained the 2022 and 2023 Drivers’ Championship, with the No. 7 making it a one-two in 2023. Toyota gained the Producers’ Championship in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Sébastien Buemi has raced the No. 8 automotive since 2012, taking two of his 4 Drivers’ titles beneath the management of Kobayashi, whom he has recognized since they raced in Formulation 3 in 2005.
“I’ve the sensation he didn’t change that a lot,” Buemi mentioned of Kobayashi. “He was already very concerned within the Japanese facet of the corporate and was attempting to have robust communication inside the firm. It’s true generally we see he has a number of work, he has to depart for the observe earlier or keep later, and we see he does work laborious — we don’t precisely know all he’s doing — however I believe clearly he’s confirmed that it has labored fairly properly since that call got here.”
The group’s base is in Cologne, Germany, however the group additionally has operations and technological improvement in Japan. Buemi mentioned he believed that Kobayashi — a Toyota-backed driver who competed in 76 Formulation 1 Grands Prix — had introduced higher cohesion between the events, merging completely different cultures and dealing practices. He has additionally promoted stronger consideration to element within the championship, the place eight producers now compete.
“I believe it’s an evolution, however he’s tried to strengthen the communication between drivers and administration and engineers, and we now have an excellent construction,” Buemi mentioned. “We’ve been round for a very long time, so I don’t suppose there’s something we do very flawed, however for my part he has improved the hyperlink — I wouldn’t say we’re extra heard than earlier than — however it works higher, it’s put a little bit of oil within the buildings, he understands each limitations. Having six drivers shouldn’t be simple, lots of people to take care of, however I believe we’ve finished a a lot better job at speaking and extracting small particulars.”
Nyck de Vries was Toyota’s take a look at and reserve driver from 2020 to 2022 earlier than rejoining the group in 2024 after a stint in Formulation 1. He races alongside Kobayashi within the No. 7 automotive.
“I keep in mind watching Kamui after I was youthful; I used to be karting and he was in Formulation 1,” de Vries mentioned. “My sister was a fan of Kamui rising up, we had a T-shirt of him, and I actually keep in mind the race he stood on the rostrum within the Japanese Grand Prix.”
He added that it was an honor to be his teammate, “extra so for every little thing he has achieved as a driver, and what he has finished in his profession, the uncooked pace and expertise that he has, relatively than essentially him being the boss.”
The opposite drivers mentioned that Kobayashi receives no particular therapy as soon as he’s behind the wheel.
“I share the automotive with the boss,” de Vries mentioned. “I believe as teammates I don’t really feel that hierarchy in any respect. I really feel like we’re all very a lot the identical, and we’re working collectively to attain the very best outcomes collectively as a group and for the group. We’re all in it with the identical aims and objectives.”
Buemi recalled a race in Bahrain in 2024 when Kobayashi prioritized the opposite automotive over his personal.
“They have been nonetheless combating for the championship,” he mentioned, “however that they had a difficulty on their automotive, and he was one of many first to say, ‘OK, let’s simply park Automotive 7 be sure that we get probably the most out of Automotive 8, as we’re out of competition.’ I’m undecided everybody would have finished that in that scenario, particularly if you battle for the world championship. In the long run we managed to win the Producers’ title, however he was one of many first to get the entire group behind Automotive 8 to ensure we bought the win.
“Anybody would have anticipated issues to go perhaps extra in his favor,” Buemi mentioned, “however I’ve by no means seen any distinction — you see the enjoyment he has when Automotive 8 does properly.”
Kobayashi nonetheless races in Tremendous Formulation and has dabbled in NASCAR and the I.M.S.A. WeatherTech Championship, believing such experiences might help his twin position within the W.E.C. He’s additionally eager to make sure that he’s simply one of many group.
“I’m having fun with the time with the opposite drivers,” he mentioned. “In fact, I’ve slightly bit extra further jobs, however I do comparable actions, we benefit from the time, we joke collectively — you’ll be able to ask the opposite guys — however I don’t suppose I do one thing particular.”
