Kobayashi Achieves First Formula One Points

Injuries are a common thing in Formula One and events such as these have often been the chance for many a future Formula One champion to step into the limelight and grab their chance at glory, fame and history. You might only get one good chance to show that you have the right stuff to be a Formula One driver if you’re given a chance – a feat that requires skills that are far beyond the driving skills displayed on the roads around the world every day – and move into the seat left vacant by an injury to another driver.

Kamui Kobayashi finishes sixth in Abu Dhabi and grabs his first career Formula One points

Kamui Kobayashi is a young Japanese racer in this position, having recently taken over the spot in Toyota’s formula one offering vacated by Timo Glock after an injury to the veteran driver left him unable to continue. Kobayashi has responded by taking full advantage of his chance by completing the race at Interlagos a few weeks ago just outside the points and then followed it up with his first Formula One points in his second race in Abu Dhabi, with a sixth place finish that had him smiling broadly. This is an excellent result for this young racer and will certainly go along way to securing him a few points in the principals’ eyes for a full time ride next season.

Kobayashi was fast right from the start and sitting in twelfth place until he was his chance, he worked his way skilfully to sixth place and finished just in front of his Toyota team mate Jarno Trulli. He started by over taking Raikkonen and then had good pit stops on his way to a strong finish with good pace through the whole race. After the race Kobayashi said his goal had been to finish in the points but that his sixth place finish was a pleasant surprise. That he had been surprised at his pace at first but slipped comfortably into a rhythm that allowed him to stay focused and feeling confident in the car through out the race.

Trulli seemed to be fighting his car a bit all day but he was quick to congratulate his younger and less experience team mate on his excellent result in just his second Formula One Grand Prix. Trulli finished six seconds behind Kobayashi and finishes the 2009 Formula One season in eighth place in the driver’s standings.

Toyota is certainly happy and looking forward to 2010, after an okay 2009 Formula One season, especially after Kobayashi’s excellent beginning to his Formula One career. Hopefully he gets a chance to sit behind the wheel next year for Toyota or another team and we get to see more of what this young Japanese sensation can do.
“Image: Zuma Press”