Rikuto Kobayashi

Rikuto Kobayashi
Kobayashi in 2025
Nationality Japanese
Born (2005-07-01) 1 July 2005
Yamagata Prefecture, Japan
Super GT - GT500 career
Debut season2026
Current teamCerumo
Car number38

Rikuto Kobayashi (小林利徠斗, Kobayashi Rikuto; born 1 July 2005) is a Japanese racing driver and sim racer currently competing in Super Formula Lights and Super GT. A member of the TGR Driver Challenge Program, Kobayashi won the F4 Japanese Championship in 2023.[1]

He is not related to the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans winner and fellow Super Formula driver Kamui Kobayashi.

Single-seater 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.[2] He finished sixth in the standings. Kobayashi continued to compete for the 2023 season.[3] In a close F4 title battle with Jin Nakamura, Kobayashi claimed the title by winning the season finale at Motegi.[4] 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.[5]

Super Formula Lights

2024

Following his F4 championship victory, Kobayashi stepped up to Super Formula Lights with TOM'S alongside Jin Nakamura in 2024.[6] After scoring a lone podium each in the opening rounds at Autopolis and Sugo,[7][8] Kobayashi scored his maiden series win from pole position at Fuji.[9] He finished third twice at Okayama but also retired from race 2 due to contact caused by Seita Nonaka.[10] Kobayashi scored two podiums again at Suzuka, which included an inherited victory in race 2 following a penalty for Nonaka.[11] A strong final round at Motegi, which saw him claim a pair of runner-up finishes and victory in race 2, allowed Kobayashi to vault to second in the championship standings.[12][13]

2025

Kobayashi stayed for another season with TOM'S in 2025.[14] The season opener at Suzuka yielded mixed results, as a pair of third places sandwiched a transmission failure in race 2.[15] Sixth and fourth followed at Autopolis, causing Kobayashi to have only a third of championship leader Yuki Sano's points.[16] A trio of podiums at Okayama brought him closer to the title fight, but with only two podiums from the four Sugo races Kobayashi fell far behind a dominant Yuto Nomura.[17][18] Contact with Sano spun Kobayashi out of the points in race 1 at Fuji, and although Kobayashi won race 2 in commanding fashion and finished third in race 3, another strong round confirmed Nomura as the champion.[19] Kobayashi finished second in all three races at the season-ending Motegi event and ended up third in the standings.[20]

Super Formula

Kobayashi sampled his first test of a Super Formula car in December 2024, taking over from series champion Sho Tsuboi on the final day of the rookie test at Suzuka.[21] In 2025, Kobayashi made his Super Formula debut, driving for Itochu Enex Wecars Team Impul at Motegi.[22]

Kobayashi will make his full-season debut with KDDI TGMGP TGR-DC along with Kamui Kobayashi.[23]

Sportscar career

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.[24] He was planned to become the third driver of Saitama Green Brave for the 2025 season, but Kobayashi instead went on to compete with CarGuy MKS Racing, which raced a Ferrari 296 GT3, alongside Zak O'Sullivan.[25][26] The pair missed out on the GT300 championship by 2.5 points.[27]

GT500

Kobayashi then made a step up to the GT500 with Cerumo, as he replaces Hiroaki Ishiura.[23]

Esports career

For 2021, Kobayashi raced in TOYOTA GAZOO Racing GT Cup where he claimed 3rd in the series.[28] He also competed in Gran Turismo World Series Showdown.[29] He is also part of the Virtual Drivers by TX3 eSport Team, on the Gran Turismo roster.

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 18 3 2 3 11 86 2nd
Super GT – GT300 apr 8 0 0 0 0 0 NC
TGR GR86/BRZ Cup Nine with ARN RACING 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Macau Grand Prix TOM'S Formula 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 12th
Super Taikyu – ST-2 KTMS 5 3 1 1 4 124‡ 1st‡
2025 Super Formula Lights TOM'S 18 1 1 2 12 85 3rd
Super GT – GT300 CarGuy MKS Racing 8 1 2 1 2 83.5 3rd
Super Taikyu – ST-X apr 7 1 1 0 3 114‡ 3rd‡
Super Formula Itochu Enex Wecars Team Impul 2 0 0 0 0 0 24th
2026 Super Formula KDDI TGMGP TGR-DC
Super GT - GT500 TGR Team KeePer Cerumo

* Season still in progress.
‡ Team standings

Complete F4 Japanese Championship results

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

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

Complete Super GT results

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

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 DC Points
2024 apr Toyota GR86 GT300 GT300 OKA
23 		FUJ
22 		SUZ
19 		FUJ
18 		SUG
21 		AUT
19 		MOT
19 		SUZ
20 		NC 0
2025 CarGuy MKS Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 GT300 OKA
17 		FUJ
4 		SEP
 FS1
4 		FS2
17 		SUZ
1 		SUG
8 		AUT
2 		MOT
7 		3rd 83.5
2026 TGR Team KeePer Cerumo Toyota GR Supra GT500 GT500 OKA
 FUJ
 SEP
 FUJ
 SUZ
 SUG
 AUT
 MOT

‡ Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance was completed.
(Number) Driver did not take part in this sprint race, points are still awarded for the teammate's result.
* Season still in progress.

Complete Super Formula Lights results

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

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pos Points
2024 TOM'S AUT
1
2 		AUT
2
8 		AUT
3
3 		SUG
1
7 		SUG
2
3 		SUG
3
5 		FUJ
1
6 		FUJ
2
1 		FUJ
3
5 		OKA
1
3 		OKA
2
Ret 		OKA
3
3 		SUZ
1
3 		SUZ
2
1 		SUZ
3
4 		MOT
1
2 		MOT
2
1 		MOT
3
2 		2nd 86
2025 TOM'S SUZ
1
3 		SUZ
2
Ret 		SUZ
3
3 		AUT
1
6 		AUT
2
4 		OKA
1
2 		OKA
2
3 		OKA
3
2 		SUG
1
3 		SUG
2
4 		SUG
3
3 		SUG
4
5 		FUJ
1
11 		FUJ
2
1 		FUJ
3
3 		MOT
1
2 		MOT
2
2 		MOT
3
2 		3rd 85

* Season still in progress.

Complete Macau Grand Prix results

Year Team Car Qualifying Quali Race Main race
2024 TOM'S Formula Tatuus F3 T-318 23rd 21st 12th

Complete Super Formula results

Year Team Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 DC Points
2025 Itochu Enex Wecars Team Impul Toyota SUZ
 SUZ
 MOT
16 		MOT
Ret 		AUT
 FUJ
 FUJ
 SUG
 FUJ
 SUZ
 SUZ
 SUZ
 24th 0
2026 KDDI TGMGP TGR-DC Toyota MOT
 MOT
 AUT
 SUZ
 SUZ
 FUJ
 FUJ
 SUG
 FUJ
 FUJ
 SUZ
 SUZ

References

  1. ^ "Kobayashi beats fellow Toyota junior Nakamura to Japanese F4 title". formulascout.com. 5 November 2023.
  2. ^ "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing announced its 2022 motorsport team setups". Toyota Gazoo Racing. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  3. ^ "参戦台数は過去最多の46台。2023年FIA-F4選手権 第1戦・第2戦富士 エントリーリスト". AUTO SPORT web (in Japanese). 2 May 2023.
  4. ^ Muschlien, Finjo (30 December 2023). "Kobayashi comes out on top in close title battle: 2023 Japanese F4 in review". Feeder Series. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  5. ^ CORPORATION, TOYOTA MOTOR. "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WEC Challenge Program: | RELEASE | WEC". TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Honda confirms Iori Kimura's place on 2024 Super Formula grid". formulascout. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  7. ^ Wood, Ida (23 June 2024). "Koide, Nakamura and Nonaka win at Sugo in Super Formula Lights". Formula Scout. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  8. ^ Wood, Ida (19 May 2024). "Toyota junior Nonaka on top in SF Lights' season opener at Autopolis". Formula Scout. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  9. ^ Wood, Ida (21 July 2024). "Kobayashi and Koide share Super Formula Lights wins at Fuji Speedway". Formula Scout. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  10. ^ Wood, Ida (15 September 2024). "Syun Koide grows Super Formula Lights lead with two wins at Okayama". Formula Scout. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  11. ^ Wood, Ida (10 November 2024). "Nonaka wins twice but SF Lights title fight stays wide open at Suzuka". Formula Scout. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  12. ^ Allen, Peter (2 December 2024). "Koide seals Super Formula Lights title in convincing fashion". Formula Scout. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  13. ^ Allen, Peter (2 December 2024). "Koide seals Super Formula Lights title in convincing fashion". Formula Scout. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  14. ^ "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Presents its 2025 motorsport team setups in Japan". Toyota Gazoo Racing. 25 December 2024. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
  15. ^ Wood, Ida (9 March 2025). "Super start at Suzuka for Sano in Super Formula Lights". Formula Scout. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  16. ^ Wood, Ida (18 May 2025). "Dense fog disrupts Super Formula Lights' second round at Autopolis". Formula Scout. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  17. ^ Wood, Ida (23 June 2025). "Nomura goes unbeaten at Okayama to level SF Lights title race". Formula Scout. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  18. ^ Wood, Ida (1 September 2025). "Nomura breaks clear in SF Lights title fight with four Sugo wins". Formula Scout. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  19. ^ Wood, Ida (7 September 2025). "Honda junior Yuto Nomura wraps up Super Formula Lights title at Fuji". Formula Scout. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  20. ^ Wood, Ida (30 November 2025). "Nomura brings win tally up to 12 in Super Formula Lights' Motegi finale". Formula Scout. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  21. ^ Allen, Peter (9 December 2024). "Antonelli and Bearman to take part in Super Formula test at Suzuka". Formula Scout. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  22. ^ Muschlien, Finjo (22 April 2025). "How Rikuto Kobayashi's strong Super Formula cameo still left him unsatisfied". Feeder Series. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  23. ^ a b "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Presents its 2026 motorsport team setups in Japan". Toyota Gazoo Racing. 19 December 2025. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  24. ^ "Saitama Toyopet Gets New Lineup Amid Toyota Reshuffle". sportscar365.com. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  25. ^ Klein, Jamie (21 January 2025). "Rasmussen Lands Lexus GT300 Drive After JOTA Exit". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  26. ^ Hirano, Ryuji (16 March 2025). "CARGUY MKS RACINGが2025年スーパーGT参戦体制を発表。オサリバン＆小林利徠斗の超強力体制に". AutoSport Web. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  27. ^ "TOM'S Toyota Clinches Title in Thrilling Motegi Decider – Sportscar365". 2 November 2025. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  28. ^ "Straight Talk from e-Motorsports Top 3 Drivers 2020". Toyota Gazoo Racing.
  29. ^ "Rikuto Kobayashi: Gran Turismo's next Superstar?". .overtake.gg. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
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