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Kamui Kobayashi
Kamui Kobayashi is the first Japanese driver to reach Formula 1 without the heavy backing of a sponsor.
That is the claim of Peter Sauber, who rescued the rookie's motor racing career after Toyota pulled out of F1 at the end of last year.
At the time, Kobayashi - who was supported and groomed for a long time by Toyota - had just impressed the F1 world with a couple of stirring performances whilst replacing injured regular Timo Glock.
The 24-year-old has been retained by Sauber for 2011. "He is the first Japanese driver who is in an F1 team without supporting the budget," Sauber is quoted by Turun Sanomat newspaper. "He is in F1 due to his ability to drive," added the Swiss.
Ahead of his first home GP at Suzuka this weekend, Kobayashi recalls standing in for the ill Glock in Friday practice a year ago.
"Jenson (Button) fought for the championship, but I fought for my life," he said. "I felt like a mountaineer, climbing either to the top or falling into a gaping abyss. There were no other options.
"I got one chance and knew that if I did not use it my career in F1 could be over just as it began," said Kobayashi.
He confirmeds he does not fit the usual mould of racing drivers from Japan: "My family is very far away from anything related to motor sport. My dad has a sushi restaurant and he has never had a car.
"When I became interested in karting when I was nine I didn't even know F1 existed."
He moved to Europe at 17 to live in France and then Italy.
That is the claim of Peter Sauber, who rescued the rookie's motor racing career after Toyota pulled out of F1 at the end of last year.
At the time, Kobayashi - who was supported and groomed for a long time by Toyota - had just impressed the F1 world with a couple of stirring performances whilst replacing injured regular Timo Glock.
The 24-year-old has been retained by Sauber for 2011. "He is the first Japanese driver who is in an F1 team without supporting the budget," Sauber is quoted by Turun Sanomat newspaper. "He is in F1 due to his ability to drive," added the Swiss.
Ahead of his first home GP at Suzuka this weekend, Kobayashi recalls standing in for the ill Glock in Friday practice a year ago.
"Jenson (Button) fought for the championship, but I fought for my life," he said. "I felt like a mountaineer, climbing either to the top or falling into a gaping abyss. There were no other options.
"I got one chance and knew that if I did not use it my career in F1 could be over just as it began," said Kobayashi.
He confirmeds he does not fit the usual mould of racing drivers from Japan: "My family is very far away from anything related to motor sport. My dad has a sushi restaurant and he has never had a car.
"When I became interested in karting when I was nine I didn't even know F1 existed."
He moved to Europe at 17 to live in France and then Italy.
