BREAKING NEWS: Kobayashi And Kvyat To Make Return To Stock Cars At COTA
Former Formula 1 drivers Kamui Kobayashi and Daniil Kvyat are set to make a return to NASCAR next weekend at Circuit of the Americas. Both drivers, who have previous experience racing around the Circuit of the Americas in Formula One, will now tackle the track with fenders.
Kamui Kobayashi, a former F1 driver and current team principal of Toyota Gazoo Racing, will make his second start in the Cup Series. Meanwhile, Daniil Kvyat, who previously raced for Red Bull Racing in Formula One and is currently competing for Lamborghini in the World Endurance Championship, will join the Xfinity Series for this event.
NEWS: @23XIRacing announces that @kamui_kobayashi will make his second career NASCAR Cup Series start at @NASCARatCOTA. pic.twitter.com/i0hWhkeRl2
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 13, 2024
Very happy to be racing in @NASCAR and @XfinityRacing again with @RideGOTRAX 🤠😉 pic.twitter.com/sHchj2h60G
— Daniil Kvyat (@kvyatofficial) March 13, 2024
Kamui Kobayashi’s Background:
Kamui Kobayashi’s journey in motorsport began at the age of nine when he started racing in karts. At seventeen, he entered Toyota’s driver academy, initiating his progression through open-wheel racing. Climbing up the Formula ladder, he achieved success in GP2. In 2007, he assumed the role of reserve driver for Toyota’s F1 program. His F1 debut came in 2009 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he impressed by finishing sixth and earning his first points in the series.
Following Toyota’s departure from F1 at the end of 2009, Kobayashi transitioned to Sauber, where he competed for three seasons. In 2013, he ventured into endurance racing, participating in his maiden 24 Hours of Le Mans driving a Ferrari 458-GTE and securing a fifth-place finish in class. Returning to F1 in 2014 with Caterham, his season was cut short. Subsequently, he raced in Super Formula in 2015 before joining Toyota Gazoo Racing in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2016. In 2024, he aims to vie for titles in both series.
Kobayashi has a notable history at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), having participated in the inaugural US Grand Prix at the venue. He boasts three podium finishes in LMP1 at COTA from his time competing in the World Endurance Championship. Additionally, he showcased his talents in the 2023 Verizon 200 at the Brickyard among other renowned international racers, qualifying 26th and finishing 33rd.
For the upcoming NASCAR event, Kobayashi will pilot the #50 Toyota Camry for 23XI Racing. The car’s livery will honor Mobil-1’s 50th anniversary in 2024 with a black and gold theme, though the specific design has yet to be unveiled.
Daniil Kvyat’s Background:
Daniil Kvyat embarked on his karting journey in 2005 at the age of ten. His ascent up the motorsport ladder commenced in 2010 when he entered Formula BMW. While competing in GP3 in 2013, he caught the eye of Helmut Marko, the head of the Red Bull Junior program, who extended an invitation for Kvyat to join Formula One.
In 2014, Kvyat made his Formula One debut with Toro Rosso before advancing to Red Bull Racing for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. He then returned to Toro Rosso for the latter part of 2016 and continued with them for the entire 2017 season. In 2018, he assumed the role of third driver at Ferrari. Kvyat reunited with Toro Rosso, later rebranded as Alpha Tauri, for the 2019 season and remained with the team through its rebranding in 2020.
After departing Formula One, Kvyat explored various other motorsport disciplines. He tested a Formula E car in April 2023 and has since found a niche in the World Endurance Championship since 2022. In 2023, he competed in an LMP2 car for Prema alongside current F1 Academy driver Doriane Pin. In the upcoming season, Kvyat will represent Lamborghini in the WEC with their new HyperCar entry, the SC63.
We always love to explore new roads, especially those that lead to historic moments. That's exactly what happened this past weekend as we witnessed the Lamborghini SC63 in action at the Qatar 1812 KM. pic.twitter.com/SyHwXxZJlz
— Lamborghini (@Lamborghini) March 4, 2024
How will Kobayashi and Kvyat fare at COTA?
Racing at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) presents a unique challenge for both Kamui Kobayashi and Daniil Kvyat as they transition to NASCAR’s Cup Series. The circuit’s wide first turn, famously known as ‘Big Red’, often sees drivers jostling for position with aggressive maneuvers. With tight turns and ample passing opportunities throughout the track, the race promises to be intense and action-packed. Last year, Jenson Button marveled at the Cup Series drivers’ aggression, likening it to an entire F1 season condensed into one race.
Kobayashi and Kvyat’s participation in the Cup Series event at COTA likely serves as preparation for the Lone Star Le Mans scheduled for September 1st. Both drivers bring experience from their time in Formula One at COTA, with Kobayashi also having competed in the World Endurance Championship at the venue. Racing for 23XI, the team defending the win with Tyler Reddick, Kobayashi will pilot a fast Toyota Camry. While a top-five finish may be a stretch, finishing within the top fifteen seems highly plausible for him.
Kvyat demonstrated promise in his debut Xfinity Series start, securing a top-fifteen finish. However, it’s worth noting that his success came with Sam Hunt Racing, a team aligned with Joe Gibbs Racing. Presently, the car Kvyat will drive, currently piloted by Patrick Emerling, has struggled to crack the top fifteen in the season’s four races. This indicates that Kvyat will face a tough challenge to surpass his previous best finish in the Xfinity Series.