Rikuto Kobayashi
NationalityJapan Japanese
Born (2005-07-01) 1 July 2005
Yamagata, Japan
F4 Japanese Championship career
Debut season2022
Current teamTGR-DC Racing School
Car number36
Starts28
Wins6
Podiums11
Poles6
Fastest laps4
Previous series
2022-2023F4 Japanese Championship
Championship titles
2023F4 Japanese Championship

Rikuto Kobayashi (小林利徠斗, Kobayashi Rikuto, born 1 July 2005) is a Japanese racing driver, esports player. Kobayashi is the driver who won the 2023 F4 Japanese Championship title.[1] He is also part of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Driver Challenge Program.[2]

Career

Formula 4

Kobayashi started his formula racing in 2022 at F4 Japanese Championship with TGR-DC Racing School as a part from he got TGR-DC RS Scholarship Driver[3] He ended up finish 6th in the standings. He continued to compete for the 2023 season, and he won the title ahead of Jin Nakamura and Yusuke Mitsui. On 30 May 2023, Toyota Gazoo Racing announced that Kobayashi took part in WEC Challenge Program training session for young drivers who are deemed to have a future in the Le Mans 24 Hours. He participated and experienced firsthand how WEC drivers and engineers take on the challenge of Le Mans.[4]

In esports

For 2021, Kobayashi raced in TOYOTA GAZOO Racing GT Cup where he claimed 3rd in the series.[5] He also competed in Gran Turismo World Series Showdown.[6]

Racing record

Career summary

Season Series Team Races Wins Poles FLaps Podiums Points Position
2022 F4 Japanese Championship TGR-DC Racing School 14 1 2 1 2 120 6th
2023 F4 Japanese Championship TGR-DC Racing School 14 5 5 3 9 221 1st
2024 Super Formula Lights TOM'S
Super GT - GT300 apr

Complete F4 Japanese Championship results

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 DC Points
2022 TGR-DC Racing School FUJ1
1

8
FUJ1
2

5
SUZ1
1

15
SUZ1
2

8
FUJ2
1

7
FUJ2
2

5
SUZ2
1

4
SUZ2
2

5
SUG
1

3
SUG
2

7
AUT
1

5
AUT
2

DNS
MOT
1

1
MOT
2

6
6th 120
2023 TGR-DC Racing School FUJ1
1

1
FUJ1
2

3
SUZ1
1

2
SUZ1
2

4
FUJ2
1

1
FUJ2
2

1
SUZ2
1

33
SUZ2
2

5
SUG
1

6
SUG
2

22
AUT
1

1
AUT
2

3
MOT
1

2
MOT
2

1
1st 221

References

  1. "Kobayashi beats fellow Toyota junior Nakamura to Japanese F4 title". formulascout.com. 5 November 2023.
  2. "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing announced its 2023 motorsport team setups". Toyota Gazoo Racing. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  3. "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing announced its 2022 motorsport team setups". Toyota Gazoo Racing. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  4. CORPORATION, TOYOTA MOTOR. "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WEC Challenge Program: | RELEASE | WEC". TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  5. "Straight Talk from e-Motorsports Top 3 Drivers 2020". Toyota Gazoo Racing.
  6. "Rikuto Kobayashi: Gran Turismo's next Superstar?". .overtake.gg. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
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