Kamui Kobayashi will race for Andretti Racing in Formula E’s season opener in Hong Kong.

If you’ve got the reputation as quite the wheelman, you’re always going to have a job driving and everyone can agree that Kamui Kobayashi fits the bill. In a bid to start the season off right and get a head start on the fourth season of Formula E, Andretti Racing has contracted with the Japanese ace at least for one race. According to Auto Sport on their update on the 31-year-old driver earlier yesterday (Nov 15, 2017) Andretti Green Racing is slotted to line up with fellow teammate Antonio Felix da Costa in the season opener of Formula E in Hong Kong.

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Although Kamui Kobayashi is most known for his exploits on the Formula 1 track, racing for Toyota in 2009, Sauber from 2010-2012, and Caterham in 2014, he’s kept himself busy, providing key support to teams who want a fighting chance. Kamui’s always had a special place with Toyota even after they ended their professional relationship in Formula 1. Since Formula 1, Toyota has contracted with Kobayashi in their efforts to gain supremacy in the LMP1 class of the FIA World Championship. Thanks to Kobayashi’s driving pace, Toyota Gazoo Racing was able to score a second place overall finish at Le Mans in 2016, not mentioning their main car’s power unit failure in the closing minutes.

From 2015-2017, Kobayashi’s raced in Super Formula with all three factory efforts having Toyota power units behind him. Additionally, he raced one round of Super GT with Lexus’s factory-sponsored effort during Round 6 in Suzuka.

CEO of the team Michael Andretti says:

“We are very fortunate to have a driver of Kobayashi’s caliber in the car to start the season. He has shown what he can do in both Formula 1 and WEC, making Formula E a perfect next step.”

Kobayashi has proven himself to be a natural fit for wherever team he lands. More importantly, he’s got the right ingredients to be quite the front-runner, always willing to take the necessary, but calculated risks, to get to the front. Andretti could really use such a risk taker as the best the team has finished is sixth overall in their debut season. Round 9 and 10 second place podiums last year do bode well for the team’s next season.

Unlike Formula 1, Formula E starts off its season a couple of weeks from now on Dec 2. I’ll keep you updated on just how well Kobayashi performs. It goes without saying, but a stellar debut will more than likely land him a permanent seat on the team.

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