10/11/2006
NEWS STORY
The Japanese driver Kohei Hirate, selected by Toyota for its Toyota Drivers Program (TDP), has been chosen by Trident Racing for the 2007 GP2 Series campaign.
Hirate, 20 years old from Nagoya, has enjoyed an excellent season in the F3 Euroseries, finishing third overall in the Driver's Classification and showing excellent technical qualities and a great determination. Kohei will be present at Valencia for the last official testing session of 2006.
Alessandro Alunni Bravi - Team Principal Trident Racing: "We are very pleased to announce the partnership with Toyota Motorsport GmbH and to have the opportunity to enter the next GP2 Series season with Kohei Hirate. I would like to thank Mr. Yoshinori Arimatsu, Manager TDP program, for the trust they have put into Trident Racing, that after only 12 months from its start has been able to conquer the consideration from the no. 1 Car Manufacturer in the World. Our target now is to fulfil Toyota's expectations with great professionalism and determination. From our first contact at Paul Ricard circuit, Kohei Hirate has shown very good performance: we place great trust in him."
Kohei Hirate: "I am happy to be stepping up to GP2 after 2 years of F3 driving. And I am also glad to be back in Italian team where I started my race career in Europe. It is a good coincidence and feel like back to my home. I have just started to work with the team from 2nd Paul Ricard testing and will be nice to be part of the team officially from next Valencia testing to build up the relationships. I can't wait for the new start of the new season with Trident Racing."
Yoshinori Arimatsu - Manager TDP program, Toyota Motorsport GmbH: "I am happy to have agreed the new partnership with Trident Racing regarding Toyota Drivers Program (TDP). They have shown brilliant performance from their very first year in the series through 2006 season, and at the same time I have surprised how big commitment they have putting to be in front. I am sure Kohei can contribute their continuous improvements of the performance, which is the same goal of TDP, Kohei himself and Trident Racing."