( CNN ) -- Popular Japanese racer Kamui Kobayashi is back in Formula One with the Caterham team -- and fan power has helped him return to the grid . After losing his drive with the Sauber team at the end of 2012 , Kobayashi turned to crowdfunding and asked fans to donate cash in an online campaign to help him pay for a seat in F1 . The 27-year-old explained on the `` Support Kamui '' website that he was too late to find a drive ahead of the 2013 season but pledged : `` I will save all the money for 2014 . '' Patience has paid off as Kobayashi and Swedish rookie Marcus Eriksson have been named as Caterham 's race drivers for the looming 2014 season . `` I want to give special thanks to all the fans who have made donations to Kamui Support , '' Kobayashi said . `` Their donations and gestures gave me extra strength to come back fighting and I am very pleased that the money they raised not only helped me but will now go to helping Caterham progress this year . `` Every single one of you who helped with Kamui Support will race with me in 2014 and that makes me very proud . `` It 's a great feeling to be back as an F1 race driver . '' Kobayashi made his F1 debut with the Toyota team in 2009 before joining the Sauber team , with whom he won his maiden podium in F1 at the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix . He quickly gained a cult status in F1 because of his attacking driving style on track and his quirky lifestyle off track . During his Sauber days Kobayashi , who is the son of a sushi chef from Amagasaki , claimed that he did not have a home but lived out of suitcase travelling the world . Caterham have chosen the ice cool Swede Ericsson to partner Kobayashi . The 23-year-old impressed with his performances in last season 's GP2 Series , the official feeder championship for young drivers aspiring to race F1 's global stage . `` This is a very proud day for me and everyone who has helped make my F1 dream come true , '' said Ericsson . `` It 's obviously great for Sweden that we 'll have a Swedish driver back on the grid in 2014 . This is what I 've been working for since I first started racing karts back when I was nine years old , and now I know I 'm ready for the step up to F1 . `` Caterham is a young team and together we can take on the challenges the new rules will present in 2014 - learning together and continuing to develop as the season progresses . '' The 22 drivers on the grid must grapple with major changes in the 2014 season , which begins in Australia on 16 March . With a reconfigured engine and chassis to consider , as well as new fuel and weight limits , F1 teams will be working flat out to get their cars ready for testing which begins in Spain next week . McLaren will be the first team to launch its new-look 2014 car in an online presentation Friday with Ferrari set to follow on Saturday .
Kamui Kobayashi returns to Formula One with the Caterham team in 2014 . The popular Japanese racer raised funds from fans to help pay for his drive . `` Every single one of you will race with me in 2014 , '' he tells fans . Sweden 's Marcus Eriksson will make his F1 debut with Caterham in 2014 .