Toyota puts Kobayashi in Super Formula, WEC

Kamui Kobayashi

Ex-Formula 1 driver Kamui Kobayashi will combine Super Formula with the World Endurance Championship in 2017, Toyota has revealed, after outlining its racing activities for the year.

Kobayashi made his debut in Super Formula in 2015, having dropped out of Formula 1, and took three podiums en route to fifth in the championship standings, before slipping to 17th overall last season.

Kobayashi will race under the KCMG banner, after a spell with Sunoco Team LeMans.

Kobayashi will also continue in the LMP1 class of the WEC with Toyota Gazoo Racing, racing alongside Jose Maria Lopez and Mike Conway, with three-car entries confirmed for Spa and Le Mans.

Kazuki Nakajima, previously of Williams, and Andre Lotterer, a long-time series frontrunner who also took part in one Grand Prix for Caterham, remain team-mates at Vantelin Team Tom's in Super Formula.

Meanwhile, New Zealander Nick Cassidy will add to his Super GT drive for the factory Lexus team by debuting in Super Formula, with Briton Jann Mardenborough also returning to single-seater competition.

Pierre Gasly is another to join Super Formula, though a team has yet to be confirmed.