Kamui Kobayashi returned to the cockpit of a Formula 1 car for the first time in more than a decade today as he is testing for Haas in France.
The Toyota World Endurance Championship team principal and driver started 75 grands prix between 2009 and 2014.
The test has come about as Toyota forged a technical partnership with Haas last year. Under the deal Toyota is providing design and manufacturing services to Haas while the F1 team is offering opportunities for Toyota’s junior drivers to run in their cars under the series’ Testing of Previous Cars regulations.
The manufacturer has placed its WEC driver Ryo Hirakawa at the team as a reserve driver. Hirakawa made his second of four planned appearances in practice sessions for the team last week.
Kobayashi, 38, is driving for Haas at the Paul Ricard circuit, formerly the home of the French Grand Prix. He made his F1 debut for Toyota’s works team at the end of 2009.
However Toyota withdrew from F1 at the end of the season. Kobayashi was picked up by BMW Sauber the following year. He achieved the most recent podium finish for a Japanese driver when he came third for the team in 2012 (by which time it was again competing as Sauber) at Suzuka.
After a year out in 2013, Kobayashi returned to F1 with Caterham the following year. That team ran into financial difficulties, however, and Kobayashi made his final appearance in F1 when they bowed out of the series at the end of 2014.
Since then he has enjoyed a successful career in WEC, first as a driver and lately also as a team manager. He shared the WEC title and victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours with team mates Jose Maria Lopez and Mike Conway in 2021.
This article will be updated.
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