Japanese Star Kamui Kobayashi Coming To Nascar

NASCAR will get another world superstar behind the wheel of one of its racecars later this summer. 23XI Racing and Toyota said Wednesday that Kamui Kobayashi will make his NASCAR debut at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course on August 13.

Kobayashi has a long career in motorsports starting with kart racing in Japan which led to a spot in Toyota’s Young Drivers program. He eventually moved to Europe and transitioned into Formula 1 with Toyota. He raced in F1 from 2009 until 2014. Since then, he has raced in Formula E, IMSA and is currently driver and team principal with the Toyota Gazoo Racing Team in the World Endurance Championship. He has two titles in the FIA WEC.

The announcement was made Wednesday in France at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans. Kobayashi has raced at Le Mans six times starting from pole in three of the last four 24 Hour of Le Mans races and finishing on the podium in four of the last five.

This weekend he will again be racing in the world’s most prestigious endurance race. Racing for Toyota in the WEC this season he has two wins.

“NASCAR is something different in the culture of motorsports compared to Japan and Europe – as a driver, it’s the American dream,” said Kobayashi. “I was lucky to be able to race in IMSA the last couple of years. It’s a different form of racing, but I think the racing technology is at a high level. I really appreciate this opportunity from TRD, U.S.A. and of course Toyota Motor North America and Toyota Gazoo Racing. Toyota has been racing in NASCAR for a long time, but I don’t think any other Japanese driver has raced a Toyota in the Cup Series. I’m very proud of this opportunity.”

23XI Racing co-owned by driver Denny Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan will field the third car Kobayashi will race beside fulltime drivers Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick. The team last fielded a third car at the season opening Daytona 500 for Travis Pastrana.

Kobayashi’s appearance marks another global superstar’s entry into a NASCAR field. Trackhouse entered F1 star Kimi Raikkonen in the NASCAR Cup race at Watkins Glen last season through its Project 91 initiative. Most recently former F1 star Jenson Button made his NASCAR debut earlier this season at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

Kobayashi will be the second Japanese driver to race in NASCAR’s top tier Cup series following Hideo Fukuyama who made four starts in the series in 2002 and 2003. Three other Japanese drivers have raced in NASCAR’s Xfinity and Truck series: Akinori Ogata, Kenko Miura and Shigeaki Hattori. He will be the first Japanese driver in NASCAR for Toyota who entered the sport in 2007.

“It’s truly an honor to have Kamui want to participate in our NASCAR Cup Series program, and we’re thrilled that we could work with our partners at 23XI Racing to give him a competitive Camry TRD for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course event.” said David Wilson, President of TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development). “Kamui shares the passion for motorsports that all of us at Toyota and TRD, U.S.A. live every day so it will be exciting to show him our NASCAR program with him behind the wheel of one of our TRD Camrys.”

“We are thrilled to support Kamui in his first NASCAR Cup Series start as we field another competitive Toyota for the race in Indianapolis,” said Steve Lauletta, President of 23XI Racing. “This race will also serve as a great opportunity for our team to compete with and learn from a highly accomplished driver. Earlier in the season the No. 67 team did a great job preparing and executing at the Daytona 500 and we look forward to the same with Kamui. We are also excited to introduce Kamui’s many international fans to 23XI and our sport.”