Japanese youngster Miyata, a race winner in both Super Formula and SUPER GT, was named as the latest member of Toyota’s WEC Challenge programme in the lead-up to last weekend’s Le Mans 24 Hours, and was embedded within the team for the French classic.
The 23-year-old will also join the Cologne-based outfit for the next two WEC races at Monza and Fuji and undertake simulator work in between his campaigns for the TOM’S team in Japan, while there are plans for him to drive the GR010 HYBRID at some stage.
Discussing Miyata’s appointment with Autosport, Toyota team director Rob Leupen said that the door is open for the newcomer to stake a claim to replace Kobayashi, 36, when the ex-Formula 1 racer eventually decides to call time on his racing career.
“Performance is the most important thing,” Leupen told Autosport when asked why Miyata was chosen over his peers. “It’s also very important to speak the language, and to be in a mental situation to race in this [European] environment.
“He seems very switched on. He has bright eyes, a bit of twinkling in the eyes, this is what you want! From just looking at the outside and having a few words with him, he seems to be a good one.
“With Kazuki [Nakajima, TGR-E vice-chairman] he has the best possible support, someone who has huge experience here, and Kamui is also very interested in him in his role as team principal.
“He seems to be made from the right stuff. While he’s here he will assess it and we’ll see if he moves in a direction of being a potential successor to Kamui as a race driver.”
Source: Autosport