Hinwil (Switzerland), Dec 17 (DPA) The Sauber Formula One team announced Thursday that Japan’s Kamui Kobayashi will be one of its two drivers for the 2010 season.
Former Toyota test driver Kobayashi impressed the Swiss team when he stood in for the injured Timo Glock in the final two races of the 2009 season, claiming a sixth-place finish for Toyota in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

“I am very happy that my two races in 2009 have earned me a cockpit place,” said the 23-year-old.

“I will do my very best for Peter Sauber’s team and I am proud to be able to carry on flying the Japanese flag in Formula 1.”

Team owner Sauber, who took back over the team he founded after BMW withdrew from F1 at the end of the 2009 season, said Kobayashi had seized his opportunity to race.

“In the last two races of last season he got an unexpected chance to race and was impressive in the way he used it,” he said.

Germany’s Nick Heidfeld is thought to be one of the drivers in the frame for the second seat.