Team KCMG will once again field two cars in the upcoming 2021 Super Formula season, with 2016 champion Yuji Kunimoto and ex-Formula 1 driver Kamui Kobayashi at the wheel.
KCMG has competed in Super Formula since 2010 and first fielded two cars in 2020, taking a best result of third with Kunimoto at Suzuka. A two-time race winner in the series, Kunimoto joined KCMG last season and has a decade of experience in Japan’s premier single-seater category. The 30-year-old from Yokohama also has the 2008 Formula Challenge Japan and 2010 Japanese Formula 3 titles to his name, along with race victories in Super GT.
Kobayashi starts his fifth consecutive campaign with Team KCMG. One of Japan’s most famous F1 drivers, he started 75 Grands Prix across five seasons, taking an emotional podium at his home race in 2012. Since leaving F1 in 2014, Kobayashi has had huge success in the World Endurance Championship. Racing for Toyota, the 34-year-old has scored seven wins in the LMP1 class, resulting in a first title in 2020.
Due to a clash between the Super Formula and IMSA calendars, debutant Kazuto Kotaka will deputise for Kobayashi during the first pre-season test at Suzuka. An exciting young talent, Kotaka finished third in the Super Formula Lights championship in 2020, scoring podiums in 11 of the 17 races, including a win at Fuji Speedway.
The two pre-season tests will be held at Suzuka on March 11-12 and Fuji on March 23-24, before returning to Fuji for the first round of the season on April 4.
Yuji Kunimoto: “I’m happy to continue racing for a second season with KCMG in Super Formula. Last year, we were able to improve with each race and we managed to take a podium at Suzuka. We’re now aiming to start the 2021 season in good form to regularly fight at the front.”
Kazuto Kotaka: “I’m delighted to stand in for Kamui for the Super Formula test in Suzuka this week. I will do my best and work hard along with Yuji and the entire team. Big thanks to KCMG for giving me this opportunity, I’m really excited to get in the car.”
Tsugio Matsuda, KCMG Super Formula Team Manager: “We’re very happy to continue with our Super Formula programme in 2021 and we are targeting a successful season. Our performance grew throughout 2020 and we still have the same experienced and talented line-up with Yuji and Kamui. We are also looking forward to working with Kazuto during the first pre-season test, he’s a very skilled young driver and a great addition to KCMG.”
Ryuji Doi, KCMG Head of Motorsport: “The whole team is very excited for the start of the new season. We ended last year with strong pace, proven by Yuji’s podium at Suzuka so we are hopeful for 2021. We made big improvements throughout 2020 and we’re delighted to have Yuji and Kamui in the cars again. We believe we have a strong line-up capable of battling for more podiums and even race wins. Although Kamui will miss the first test, Kazuto is more than ready to fill in and help the team out and we’re very pleased to have him onboard.”
Super Formula 2021 Calendar
Pre-season testing, Suzuka 11-12 March
Pre-season testing, Fuji Speedway 23-24 March
Fuji Speedway 4 April
Suzuka 25 April
Autopolis 16 May
Sportsland SUGO 20 June
Twin Ring Motegi 29 August
Okayama 3 October
Suzuka 31 October
For more information about KCMG please visit www.kcmg.com.hk. To keep track of all the latest updates, please like KCMG’s Facebook page or follow on Twitter and Instagram.
Who is KCMG?
KC Motorgroup Ltd (KCMG) is an international motorsport services group established in 2007 by Paul Ip. The group, with its headquarters located in Hong Kong, has operations reaching across the Asia Pacific region. KCMG operates closely with many partner companies and racing organisations around the world to provide unrivalled motorsport services, equipment, team management and quality distribution in the automotive industry. For more information on all of the team’s activities please visit www.kcmg.com.hk or email info@kcmg.com.hk.
