As expected after two years in the F3 Euroseries, and his recent confirmation as Toyota F1's third driver for 2008, Kamui Kobayashi will graduate to the GP2 Series, following in the footsteps of countryman and former rival Kazuki Nakajima at DAMS.

With Nakajima being plucked from a promising debut campaign to partner Nico Rosberg at Williams next season, DAMS' Jean-Paul Driot has maintained his links with Toyota's driver development programme by making Kobayashi his first signing for next season, with the Japanese rookie set to contest both the main 'summer' series and the new Asian competition.

"We are more than pleased to welcome Kamui Kobayashi to the team, not only for his talent, but also for his great character we have already much appreciated in and out of the car," Driot confirmed, “It is a pleasure and a great honour to continue with the Toyota Drivers Programme for a third season, especially as we really enjoyed a great year, sportingly and humanly, [in 2007], culminating with Kazuki's move up to F1.

"I would like to particularly thank Yoshinori Arimatsu for his fantastic work behind all the talented TDP drivers. This task is not easy and, without the confidence he always showed in us at DAMS, we would not have achieved these good results."

Arimatsu revealed that Kobayashi had first been brought to Driot's attention during his double title-winning Formula Renault campaign in 2005, before the Japanese driver went on to run back-to-back Euroseries seasons. Now, however, he is pleased to have provided the French team with a direct replacement for Nakajima.

“It is my pleasure to continue our partnership with DAMS," he said, "We have shared the joy of watching Kazuki Nakajima stepping into F1 in second half of 2007, but I have to point out that it would never have happened without DAMS' commitment.

"Now, following our brief discussion [in 2005], Kobayashi's turn at DAMS comes to reality through his steady progress in couple of F3 seasons. I am looking forward to seeing further progress in GP2."

Kobayashi, meanwhile, admitted that he was excited to have followed his recent confirmation of a test role in F1 with Toyota by securing his race programme for 2008.

"We have already worked together at Jerez and Paul Ricard to build up the relationship, and they have tried various set-ups to find one that suits my style," he said of post-season GP2 testing with DAMS, "It will be a busy season for me since the Asian series will start soon, and main series testing will be starting while the Asian series is on. Having said that, I welcome these kinds of challenges."

Nakajima was paired with GP2 veteran Nicolas Lapierre in 2007, but the Frenchman's plans - and those for the second DAMS seat - remain undefined as yet.