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Kamui Kobayashi has been racing for Toyota Gazoo Racing within the F.I.A. World Endurance Championship for 9 years, profitable the championship twice. He might 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 System 1 got here up as drivers, Kobayashi holds a uncommon twin position on such a high-profile group.
“I used to be clearly fairly shocked as I didn’t count on it,” Kobayashi mentioned of being supplied the position. “I’m proud, and I respect the chance. For positive it’s not simple to be doing issues collectively on the similar time, however on the finish of the day I adjusted and it’s gone properly. I’m not going to do all the pieces myself, we’ve plenty 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 a substitute 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, certainly one of three drivers of the No. 7 automobile, 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 automobile since 2012, taking two of his 4 Drivers’ titles underneath the management of Kobayashi, whom he has identified since they raced in System 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 making an attempt to have robust communication throughout the firm. It’s true typically we see he has plenty of work, he has to depart for the monitor earlier or keep later, and we see he does work arduous — 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 growth in Japan. Buemi mentioned he believed that Kobayashi — a Toyota-backed driver who competed in 76 System 1 Grands Prix — had introduced higher cohesion between the events, merging totally 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’ve construction,” Buemi mentioned. “We’ve been round for a very long time, so I don’t suppose there’s something we do very incorrect, however in my view he has improved the hyperlink — I wouldn’t say we’re extra heard than earlier than — nevertheless it works higher, it’s put a little bit of oil within the constructions, he understands each limitations. Having six drivers will not be simple, lots of people to cope with, however I believe we’ve achieved a significantly 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 System 1. He races alongside Kobayashi within the No. 7 automobile.
“I bear in mind watching Kamui after I was youthful; I used to be karting and he was in System 1,” de Vries mentioned. “My sister was a fan of Kamui rising up, we had a T-shirt of him, and I actually bear 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 all the pieces he has achieved as a driver, and what he has achieved in his profession, the uncooked velocity 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 automobile 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 realize 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 automobile over his personal.
“They have been nonetheless preventing for the championship,” he mentioned, “however that they had a problem on their automobile, and he was one of many first to say, ‘OK, let’s simply park Automobile 7 make certain we get essentially the most out of Automobile 8, as we’re out of rivalry.’ I’m unsure everybody would have achieved that in that scenario, particularly whenever you combat 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 Automobile 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 Automobile 8 does properly.”
Kobayashi nonetheless races in Tremendous System and has dabbled in NASCAR and the I.M.S.A. WeatherTech Championship, believing such experiences can assist 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 a bit bit extra further jobs, however I do comparable actions, we benefit from the time, we joke collectively — you may ask the opposite guys — however I don’t suppose I do one thing particular.”
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