is a Japanese racing driver and sim racer currently competing in

Super Formula Lights is a national formula racing championship that takes place in Japan. It is a junior-level feeder formula that uses the same single seater chassis as the pan-European Euroformula Open Championship. The series will be the first with the new ...

and

Super GT Super GT (stylized as SUPER GT) is a sports car racing series that began in 1993. Launched as the , generally referred to as the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC), the series was renamed to Super GT in 2005. It is the top level of ...

. A member of the TGR Driver Challenge Program, Kobayashi won the F4 Japanese Championship in

2023 Catastrophic natural disasters in 2023 included the Lists of 21st-century earthquakes, 5th-deadliest earthquake of the 21st century 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, striking Turkey and Syria, leaving up to 62,000 people dead; Cyclone Freddy ...

. He is not related to the 2021

24 Hours of Le Mans The 24 Hours of Le Mans () is an endurance-focused Sports car racing, sports car race held annually near the city of Le Mans, France. It is widely considered to be one of the world's most prestigious races, and is one of the races—along with ...

winner Kamui Kobayashi.

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 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 is a Japanese racing driver who is currently competing in the Formula Regional European Championship with R-ace GP. He was runner up in the 2023 F4 Japanese Championship and previously raced in Super GT and Super Formula Lights. He is also p ...

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.

Super Formula Lights

Following his Formula 4 championship victory, Kobayashi stepped up to

with

TOM'S is an automotive aftermarket parts manufacturer and tuner of Toyota and Lexus vehicles, as well as a factory-backed racing team. The TOM'S head office is located in Tokyo, Japan. TOM'S most prominently produces aftermarket parts for current ...

alongside

. He managed to be the runner-up in the season, only lose out to the eventual champion Syun Koide, but he beats Seita Nonaka. Kobayashi stayed for another season with TOM'S.

Super GT

GT300

Kobayashi also will make his debut to compete in Super GT - GT300 with apr, as he partnered with Hiroaki Nagai and Manabu Orido. He was planned to Saitama Green Brave as the team's third driver for 2025 season, but he was announced to compete with the new team, CarGuy MKS Racing which will race with Ferrari 296 GT3 alongside

Zak O'Sullivan Zak O'Sullivan (born 6 February 2005) is a British racing driver who is set to compete in Super Formula for Kondo Racing, Kondo. He is the champion of the 2021 GB3 Championship and the 2019 Ginetta Junior Championship, 2019 Ginetta Junior, 2020 ...

Esports career

For 2021, Kobayashi raced in TOYOTA GAZOO Racing GT Cup where he claimed 3rd in the series. He also competed in Gran Turismo World Series Showdown. He is also part of the Virtual Drivers by TX3 eSport Team, on the Gran Turismo roster.

Racing record

Career summary

^* Season still in progress.
‡ Team standings

Complete F4 Japanese Championship results

( key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)

Complete Super GT results

( key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)

Complete Super Formula Lights results

( key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap) ^* Season still in progress.

Complete Macau Grand Prix results

Complete Super Formula results

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kobayashi, Rikuto Living people 2005 births Japanese racing drivers Japanese F4 Championship drivers Sportspeople from Yamagata Prefecture Toyota Gazoo Racing drivers Super Formula Lights drivers TOM'S drivers Super GT drivers 21st-century Japanese sportsmen Super Formula drivers