Munich. 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 22nd to 24th
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 MSAD 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.