Kamui Kobayashi will return to 23XI Racing for his second NASCAR Cup Series start.
Kobayashi, a former 24 Hours of Le Mans winner and two-time World Endurance champion, will drive a Toyota Camry XSE at Circuit of the Americas on March 24. He will work alongside Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick once again while gaining experience in a Cup car.
Kobayashi made his Cup debut last season at Indianapolis. He was one of six international drivers in the field, joining Shane van Gisbergen (New Zealand), Brodie Kostecki (Australia), Mike Rockenfeller (Germany), Jenson Button (England) and Daniel Suarez (Mexico).
Kobayashi, who has 75 Formula One starts, qualified 28th and finished 33rd after an eventful race.
Prior to Kobayashi’s first career Cup start last season, he shared his reason for making the move over to NASCAR.
“I’m here to experience NASCAR, but at the same time I want to expand NASCAR (interest) in Japan,” he told NBC Sports. “I think there’s a big potential.”
Kobayashi will have another opportunity to help NASCAR expand as he competes at Circuit of the Americas, a track where he made one start in Formula One.
Kobayashi will not be the only guest driver competing at COTA in March.
Former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat will join SS Green Light Racing for the Xfinity race on Saturday, March 23. He will make his second career Xfinity start while driving the No. 07 Chevrolet.
Super excited to announce former F1 driver and current Lamborghini driver @kvyatofficial will drive the #07 @RideGOTRAX Chevrolet in the Focused Health 250 @NASCARatCOTA ! #BuiltToWin pic.twitter.com/vRaf9HzSr5
— SS GreenLight Racing (@SSGLR0708) March 13, 2024
Kvyat, who scored three podium finishes in his F1 career, made his NASCAR debut in 2022. He made Cup starts for Team Hezeberg Racing at Indianapolis, Watkins Glen and the Charlotte Roval. Mechanical issues led to DNFs at Indianapolis and the Roval.
Kvyat also made his Xfinity debut in 2022. He drove for Sam Hunt Racing at the Charlotte Roval and finished 15th.
