Local favourite Kamui Kobayashi to drive the BMW M4 DTM at Fuji

The BMW ‘Dream Team’ for the ‘Dream Race’ is taking shape. After the announcement of BMW works driver and BMW Brand Ambassador Alessandro Zanardi (ITA), Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) has now been confirmed as the second of three drivers for the first joint race event between the DTM and the Japanese SUPER GT series at Fuji (JPN).

The ‘SUPER GT x DTM Dream Race’, at which representatives of the DTM manufacturers will take on Japanese opposition from Honda, Lexus and Nissan, will take place from 22^nd to 24^th November at Fuji (JPN).

“Like Alessandro Zanardi, our second driver for the Dream Race is another real gem. Kamui Kobayashi will make his race debut for BMW Motorsport and is sure to attract plenty of interest in the ‘Dream Race’ from many of his Japanese compatriots and fans,” said BMW Group Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “Kamui has shown his class and versatility in Formula 1, Le Mans, and the ABB FIA Formula E Championship. He is sure to be fast in the BMW M4 DTM too. We will reveal the third driver in our ‘Dream Team’ for Fuji shortly.”

Kamui Kobayashi will drive a BMW Motorsport touring car for the first time at the 4.563-kilometre circuit, which is within sight of the iconic Mount Fuji. The 33-year-old Japanese driver’s career includes 75 Formula 1 Grands Prix and two second-place finishes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. At the Hong Kong E-Prix (CHN) in December 2017, Kobayashi drove two races in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship for what was at the time the MS&AD Andretti Formula E team.

“First of all, I would like to thank BMW Motorsport for the offer to race in one of their BMW M4 DTM cars at the ‘Dream Race’ at Fuji.  And also, I want to say thank you to Toyota for letting me take this opportunity,” said Kobayashi. “Fuji will be my first time driving the BMW M4 DTM, but BMW Motorsport gave me the opportunity to prepare a little bit and get an idea of the car. I will do my best to give the fans a good show with the BMW M4 DTM.”

Before the Japanese man was welcomed on board, BMW Motorsport had already announced Alessandro Zanardi as its first member of the ‘Dream Team’. This will be the Italian’s second appearance in the DTM, having made a guest start in August 2018 at Misano (ITA), where he claimed a sensational fifth place on the Sunday. The Fuji race will be significant to Zanardi for another special reason: the racetrack will be the venue for the paracycling competitions at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo (JPN) which Zanardi aims to qualify for. The Italian has already won four Paralympic gold medals and is a twelve-time world champion.