Ex-F1 driver Kobayashi to combine Super Formula and WEC in 2017

Toyota LMP1 pilot Kobayashi will move from Team LeMans to KCMG, replacing Yuichi Nakayama in its sole car, after finishing 17th in the 2016 standings with a single points finish in the Suzuka season finale.

Kobayashi's sportscar stablemate Kazuki Nakajima will stay with Team TOM'S in Super Formula, joined by former Audi and now Porsche WEC rival Andre Lotterer.

British pair James Rossiter and William Buller have been dropped by Toyota, replaced at Kondo Racing by an all-new rookie line-up of Formula 3 European Championship race winner Nick Cassidy and 2016 All-Japan F3 champion Kenta Yamashita.

Jann Mardenborough will also graduate to the series, with Team Impul alongside Yuhi Sekiguchi, as Joao Paulo de Oliveira makes way.

Inging has retained the last two drivers' champions, in Yuji Kunimoto and Hiroaki Ishiura.

Kazuya Oshima returns to the series four years after his last full-time campaign, taking Kobayashi's Team LeMans seat.

Oshima's team-mate is yet to be announced, but Narain Karthikeyan has also been dropped from Toyota's roster.

Honda is yet to name its 2017 Super Formula drivers, but that group will include GP2 champion Pierre Gasly - the Red Bull protege has been linked with Nakajima Racing as well as a place in an expanded two-car line-up from Team Mugen.

NAKAJIMA RETURNS TO SUPER GT

Meanwhile, Nakajima has returned to the Super GT championship with TOM'S after a two-year absence from the series.

The ex-F1 driver moves into the Lexus factory team's prestige #36 car, with Rossiter promoted to that machine as co-driver to Nakajima.

Cassidy has been shifted from the #36 - in which he starred in his rookie campaign last year - alongside Ryo Hirakawa, who remains in the #37 car.

Cassidy's co-driver from last year, 2007 champion Daisuke Ito, has retired from top-level driving at the age of 41.

Reigning Super GT champions Heikki Kovalainen and Kohei Hirate remain as part of the Toyota roster, with their Team SARD entry now sporting the #1.