is a Japanese racing driver. He currently drives in the Formula Nippon, and the Super GT series in the GT500 category. He is not related to fellow Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi.
In 2010, Kobayashi won the All-Japan Formula Three championship, National Class.
In 2010, Kobayashi made his debut in the Super GT series (GT500) at the Pokka GT Summer Special (Suzuka Circuit) as the third driver of the ARTA. Despite the team mistakenly declaring him to qualify instead of Ralph Firman in the final session, he claimed the pole position, being the first to do so on a debut. the ARTA team won the race the following day.
Kobayashi's performance led to him becoming part of the new lineup of ARTA in the 2011 Super GT season, partnered with former IndyCar Series driver Hideki Mutoh.
Racing record
Complete Japanese Formula 3 results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Engine Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 DC Pts 2009 HFDP Racing Toyota N FUJ19 FUJ211 OKA16 OKA27 SUZ111 SUZ210 FUJ19 FUJ29 SUZ19 SUZ29 MOT113 MOT214 AUT111 AUT210 SUG113 SUG27 4th 62 2010 N SUZ17 SUZ26 MOT18 MOT25 FUJ16 FUJ26 FUJ18 FUJ27 MOT18 MOT211 OKA17 OKA28 SUG17 SUG210 AUT16 AUT2Ret 1st 124
Complete Super GT results Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 DC Pts 2010Autobacs Racing Team AguriHonda HSV-010 GTGT500SUZOKAFUJSEPSUGSUZ1FUJMOTNC0 2011Autobacs Racing Team AguriHonda HSV-010 GTGT500OKA12FUJ9SEP9SUG10SUZ9FUJ14AUT12MOT1315th7 2012Autobacs Racing Team AguriHonda HSV-010 GTGT500OKA6FUJRetSEP12SUGRetSUZ7FUJ9AUT11MOT1316th12 2013Autobacs Racing Team AguriHonda CR-ZGT300OKA12FUJ19SEP1SUG1SUZRetFUJ16FUJRetAUT16MOT157th40 2014Autobacs Racing Team AguriHonda CR-ZGT300OKA6FUJ18AUT1SUG16FUJ22SUZ16BUR13MOT1211th25 2015Autobacs Racing Team AguriHonda CR-ZGT300OKA2FUJ17CHA10FUJ1SUZ12SUG12AUT6MOT46th49 2016Autobacs Racing Team AguriBMW M6 GT3GT300OKA11FUJ2SUGretFUJ1SUZ14CHA3MOTretMOTDNS5th48 2017Autobacs Racing Team AguriHonda NSX-GTGT500OKADNSFUJ9AUTretFUJ5SUZ1SUG8CHA11MOT99th37 2018Team UpGarageToyota 86 MCGT300OKA1FUJ13SUZ6CHA18FUJ9SUG11AUT27MOTret12th28 2019Team UpGarageHonda NSX GT3GT300OKA11FUJ12SUZ15CHA24FUJ4SUG9AUT10MOT1922nd13 2020Team UpGarageHonda NSX GT3 EvoGT300FUJ22FUJ18SUZ2MOT14FUJ18SUZRetMOT16FUJ2515th15 2021Team UpGarageHonda NSX GT3 EvoGT300 OKA FUJ SUZ MOT SUG AUT MOT FUJ 25th 4 2022 Team UpGarage Honda NSX GT3 Evo GT300 OKA FUJ SUZ FUJ SUZ SUG AUT MOT 8th 34 2023 Team UpGarage Honda NSX GT3 Evo GT300 OKAFUJSUZ FUJ SUZ SUG AUT MOT 5th 43 2024 Team UpGarage Honda NSX GT3 Evo GT300 OKA FUJ SUZ FUJ SUG AUT MOT SUZ 14th 16 2025 Team UpGarage Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo GT300 OKA FUJ SEP FS1 FS2 SUZ SUG AUT MOT 11th 61.5 2026 Team UpGarage Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo GT300 OKA FUJ SEP FUJ SUZ SUG AUT MOT
‡ Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance was completed. (Number) Driver did not take part in this sprint race, points are still awarded for the teammate's result. * Season still in progress.
References
External links REAL RACING F3 website
SUPERGT Official website