Zoom Kobayashi one to watch with Toyota

Kamui Kobayashi made his second grand prix start Sunday evening in Abu Dhabi from 12th position on the grid and made great use of his one stop strategy to finish in sixth position and secure his first championship points. Despite his impressive late-season debut, Kobayashi admits that his Formula One future is not yet clear.

"It was a really good race for me,” said the delighted Japanese driver. “At the start I overtook Raikkonen and that was important in the end because it would have been difficult to finish in the top six if I had been behind him during the first stint. When I got past I was confident I had the race pace to fight for the points and my target was to be consistently fast.

“The team did a great job with the strategy and the pit stop which played a big part in helping me finish in the points. I certainly wasn't expecting to be racing in Formula One this season and I want to say thank you to Toyota for this opportunity. My target was to finish in the points today but I am a bit surprised to be in the top six. This is a fantastic result and I am extremely happy."

Kobayashi ran as high as third ahead of his sole pitstop, battling again with 2009 champion Jenson Button and claiming the position before he was forced to pit. His performance, in place of the injured Timo Glock should have done enough to ensure that he races full-time with Toyota next season.

“Kamui did a fantastic job and we are very proud of him,” summed up team principal Tadashi Yamashina. "It was a great result for us to have both drivers in the points in the last race of 2009.”

Kobayashi is now waiting on Toyota to decide their driver line-up for next season and hopes that his impressibe displays in both Brazil and Abu Dhabi have been enough.

"At the moment there is nothing for me for next year, so I had to show my performance," he said. “Two months ago I had no chance to drive in Formula One, but Toyota gave me a chance and now I have a really good opportunity for next year.

"It's not yet confirmed, but of course Toyota is my priority because I'm a junior driver for Toyota - this is like my home - so I'm definitely awaiting an answer.”

E.A. © CAPSIS International
Source: GMM