Formula One’s surprise package from 2009 Kamui Kobayashi will race on in the sport next season after signing for Sauber.
The talented Japanese driver impressed on his two outings for Toyota at the back end of 2009 when he stood in for the injured Timo Glock. Kobayashi had been hoping to secure a drive at Toyota for 2010 before the team pulled out of the sport last month.
"Ever since the start of my career I have dreamed of racing in Formula 1,” he said. “Now this dream has come true. I am very happy that my two races in 2009 have earned me a cockpit place. I will do my very best for Peter Sauber’s team and I am proud to be able to carry on flying the Japanese flag in Formula 1."
Sauber said he was keen to sign Kobayashi after seeing how well he performed in Brazil and Abu Dhabi, despite not having driven a F1 for several months before hand.
“I’m very much looking forward to working together with Kamui,” said Sauber. “In the final two Grand Prix of last season he was granted an unexpected chance to show his skills, and he made impressive use of it.
"Particularly in the Abu Dhabi race he demonstrated not only that he can drive fast and aggressively, but also his ability to successfully implement a strategy. I am convinced he has a great deal of potential and will be able to make the most of it in our team."
Kobayashi previously said he would end up working in his father’s sushi restaurant next season if he wasn’t able to land a full F1 drive for 2010.
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