• Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Toyota replace Glock with Kobayashi

ESPNF1 Staff
October 27, 2009 « Mercedes buys Brawn GP | »

Timo Glock will miss out on the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi. Toyota have confirmed that Kamui Kobayashi will replace Glock, who suffered a cracked vertebra in qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix, for the championship finale at the new Yas Marina circuit.

Kobayashi made his F1 debut in Brazil with an impressive race, finishing ninth and narrowly missing out on points. It means that Glock, who is rumoured to be leaving Toyota at the end of the season, could have raced his last race for the team. With one race remaining, Glock sits in tenth place in the drivers' championship, but points for Heikki Kovalainen or Robert Kubica could see him drop down the rankings.

Toyota president John Howett said: "We feel genuinely sorry for Timo that his season, which has included two impressive podium finishes, is ending in this way. Having discussed the medical advice with Timo and his management, the team has decided to take no risk and to put Kamui in the car. He performed well in Brazil in difficult circumstances so we are happy to ask him to once again deputise."

Meanwhile, Felipe Massa's return to F1 remains on track after he confirmed he will compete at the Granja Viana endurance kart race in Sao Paulo in December. The race will be Massa's first return to competitive racing since suffering head injuries at the Hungarian Grand Prix in July. Massa, who won the race for the second time in 2002, will go head-to-head with F1 rival and seven-time champion Rubens Barrichello in the 500-mile race.

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