Koby for Abu Dhabi

Toyota has announced that Kamui Kobayashi will race for the team at this weekend in Abu Dhabi. Kobayashi made his grand prix debut in Brazil, where he qualified 11th and finished ninth after a fighting performance.

He once again replaces Timo Glock, who suffered a cracked vertebra and cut leg in an accident during qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix earlier this month.

"We feel genuinely sorry for Timo that his season, which has included two impressive podium finishes, is ending in this way,” said team president John Howett. “Having discussed the medical advice with Timo and his management, the team has decided to take no risk and to put Kamui in the car.

“Kamui performed well in Brazil in difficult circumstances so we are happy to ask him to once again deputise."

Both Glock and team-mate Jarno Trulli do not have a contract to race with Toyota next season, while Kobayashi’s strong Brazilian performance has moved him into the reckoning for a race seat next season and points in Abu Dhabi.

"I am really looking forward to my second grand prix and I want to make the most of this unexpected chance,” said Kobayashi. “I didn't know the track in Brazil and that was a little bit of a disadvantage because almost all the other drivers had some experience of it.
But that's not the case in Abu Dhabi; this is a new track for everyone so that should help me.

“I am also more familiar with the car now, as well as other procedures during a race weekend like pit stops and the two tyre compounds, so I expect to be more competitive in Abu Dhabi,” the Japanese racer continued. “Of course it will be extremely difficult because the field is very strong and this is just my second grand prix but I will give my all."

Glock meanwhile will still make the journey to Abu Dhabi to continue negotiations with potential employers. Glock's manager, Hans Bernd Kamps, told SID that he thinks he could finalise a deal for next year within the next 14 days.

Top of the list will be the talks with Renault about becoming Robert Kubica's new team-mate, but it is also believed that Manor and Sauber are options. "We had five prospective teams, and we negotiate seriously with three," he said.