Stephen Simpson

{{short description|South African racing driver (born 1984)}} {{BLP sources|date=November 2025}} {{other people||Steve Simpson (disambiguation)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}} {{Use South African English|date=April 2012}} {{Infobox racing driver | name = Stephen Simpson | image = File:JDC-Miller Motorsports Oreca 07 Petit Le Mans.jpg | caption = Simpson at the 2017 Petit Le Mans | nationality = {{flagicon|ZAF}} South African | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|1|8|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Poole]], [[Dorset]], [[England]] | relatives =  | racing_licence = [[File:FIA Gold Driver.png|12px]] [[FIA Gold Categorisation|FIA Gold]] {{small|(until 2013)}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://motorsport.nextgen-auto.com/IMG/pdf/PilotesCategories.pdf|title=2013 FIA WEC - Liste des catégorisations des pilotes|website=nextgen-auto.com|publisher=[[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile]]|date=7 November 2012|access-date=9 January 2026}}</ref> [[File:FIA Silver Driver.png|12px]] FIA Silver {{small|(2014–)}} | current_series = [[WeatherTech SportsCar Championship]] | first_year = | current_team = [[JDC MotorSports|JDC-Miller MotorSports]] | car_number = 85 | engine = Cadillac 5.5L V8 | codriver = [[Chris Miller (racing driver)|Chris Miller]] [[Juan Piedrahita]] [[Simon Trummer]] | former_teams = | starts = | championships = | wins = | podiums = | poles = | best_finish =  | year =  | last_finish = | prev_series =  | prev_series_years = | updated = |imagesize=250px}} '''Stephen Simpson''' (born 8 January 1984) is a [[South Africa]]n-[[South African Americans|American]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://racer.com/2018/05/06/simpson-briscoe-become-u-s-citizens/|title=Simpson, Briscoe become U.S. citizens|last=Pruett|first=Marshall|work=RACER|date=6 May 2018|accessdate=8 May 2018}}</ref> professional racing driver currently competing in the [[International Motor Sports Association|IMSA]] [[WeatherTech SportsCar Championship]] and previously in the [[A1 Grand Prix]], [[Champ Car Atlantic Championship]] and the Indy Pro Series, among others.

==Biography== Simpson was born on 8 January 1984 in [[Poole]], [[Dorset]], [[England]] and he moved to South Africa with his family when he was ten months old. He studied at the [[South African College Schools|South African College High School]] and graduated in 2002. He moved to the U.S. in pursuit of his motor sport career in 2006 and became a naturalized US citizen in 2018.

===Early career=== Simpson began karting at the age of eight and won several regional and national karting titles in South Africa.

In 2000, Simpson became the youngest ever driver to win the South African Formula Ford Championship, at the age of sixteen. In 2001, Simpson left his native [[South Africa]] to compete in the Slick 50 [[Formula Ford]] Zetec Championship in the UK. Despite poor funding the youngster was highly impressive beating factory teams on a number of occasions and culminating in being awarded the Motorsport News Race Ace award for his performance at [[Donington Park]]. He ended the season with a stirring performance in atrocious conditions at [[Brands Hatch]] in the [[Formula Ford Festival]].

For 2002, Simpson was signed by [[Durango (racing team)|Durango]] to compete in the [[Formula Renault 2000 Masters|European Formula Renault Championship]] and [[Formula Renault 2000 Italia|Italian Championship]], however his season was dogged by bad luck and a serious lack of testing.

Just weeks before the 2003 season got underway, a potential sponsor pulled out, leaving Simpson with no alternatives and thus without a drive for the season. Simpson instead concentrated on his fitness and continued looking for the right drive.

For 2004, Simpson joined [[Richard Dean (racing driver)|Richard Dean]]'s Team JLR, with which he contested the prestigious [[British Formula Renault Championship]]. He finished second in the Winter Series with two wins and five podiums to his name.

===2005–2008=== Simpson was brought in to race in the inaugural [[A1 Grand Prix]] World Cup of Motorsport in winter 2005, helping A1 Team South Africa to a dismal seventeenth place in the series. His best result was a third place in the Feature Race in Dubai and he also achieved a fifth at his home event. Simpson also continued to drive for Team JLR in British Formula Renault.

For 2006, Simpson was signed to drive for Gelles Racing in the [[Champ Car Atlantic Series]] but he left the series after three races, with a best finish of fifth. Towards the end of the year, he had a test with [[Champ Car World Series]] team [[Mi-Jack Conquest Racing]] and reportedly impressed the team with his performance.<ref>Freeman, Glenn. [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/56026 Conquest see potential in Simpson], ''Autosport.com'', 15 December 2006</ref>

In [[2007 in IPS|2007]], Simpson signed with Kenn Hardley Racing to compete in the [[Indy Pro Series]].<ref>[http://www.indycar.com/pro/news/story.php?story_id=8227 Kenn Hardley signs Simpson] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927210245/http://www.indycar.com/pro/news/story.php?story_id=8227 |date=27 September 2007 }}, IndyCar.com, 19 February 2007</ref> He struggled with the oval races on the series, but finished well on the road and street courses, recording a season best third place finish at the [[Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course]] and finished ninth in the championship. Kenn Hardley Racing shut down at the end of the season and its assets were sold. He then enjoyed several very strong outings for the [[Creation Autosportif|Creation]]/AIM LMP1 team in Europe and the U.S. before the [[Great Recession]] resulted in the closure of the team and he was again left without a drive.

===2014 to date=== After a challenging few years without any race driving, Simpson was back in a full time race seat in [[2014 United SportsCar Championship|2014]] driving for [[JDC–Miller MotorSports|JDC-Miller MotorSports]] in the [[Tudor United SportsCar Championship]]. The highlight of the season was a third place finish at [[2014 Continental Tire Road Race Showcase|Road America]]. In [[2015 United SportsCar Championship|2015]] Simpson raced in selected races in the [[Tudor United SportsCar Championship]] and finished third at the [[2015 24 Hours of Daytona|Daytona 24 Hours]], second at [[Detroit]] and had a pole position at [[2015 Northeast Grand Prix|Lime Rock Park]]. During 2015, Simpson was also a race driver for LAP Motorsport, the official team of MINI USA.

Simpson won the [[Le Mans Prototype Challenge|PC]] class of the Daytona 24 hours in [[2016 24 Hours of Daytona|2016]], part of the [[2016 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship|WeatherTech SportsCar Championship]].

The team moved up to the top prototype category for [[2017 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship|2017]] and enjoyed a number of podium finishes. For [[2018 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship|2018]], Simpson continued to race for JDC-Miller MotorSports in the top Prototype class of the IMSA Weathertech Championship alongside teammates [[Misha Goikhberg]] and [[Chris Miller (racing driver)|Chris Miller]] in an [[Oreca 07|Oreca]] [[Gibson Technology|Gibson]] [[Le Mans Prototype|LMP]]2 car, winning the [[2018 6 Hours of The Glen|2018 Sahlens 6 Hours of the Glen]] at [[Watkins Glen International|Watkins Glen]]. He also raced with Michael Johnson for the same team in the [[Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge]] in an [[Audi RS 3 LMS TCR|Audi RS3 TCR]] car.

== Racing record ==

===American open–wheel racing results=== ([[Template:American Open Wheel driver results legend|key]]) (Races in '''bold''' indicate pole position)

====Indy Pro Series==== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%" ! Year ! Team ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 15 ! 16 ! Rank ! Points ! Ref |- | [[2007 Indy Pro Series|2007]] ! Kenn Hardley Racing |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|[[Homestead-Miami Speedway|HMS]] 11 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"|[[Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg|STP1]] 4 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|[[Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg|STP2]] 20 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|[[Firestone Freedom 100|INDY]] 14 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|[[Milwaukee Mile|MIL]] 22 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"|[[Liberty Challenge|IMS1]] 5 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|[[Liberty Challenge|IMS2]] 11 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|[[Iowa Speedway|IOW]] 19 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|[[Watkins Glen International|WGL1]] 12 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|[[Watkins Glen International|WGL2]] 13 |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|[[Nashville Superspeedway|NSH]] 7 |style="background:#FFDF9F;"|[[Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course|MOH]] 3 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|[[Kentucky Speedway|KTY]] 11 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"|[[Infineon Raceway|SNM1]] 4 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"|[[Infineon Raceway|SNM2]] 5 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|[[Chicagoland Speedway|CHI]] 12 |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|'''9th''' |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|'''312''' !<ref>{{cite web|title=Stephen Simpson – 2007 Infiniti / Indy Pro Series Results|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/driver-season-stats/simpsst01/2007/IL|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=21 September 2025}}</ref> |}

===Complete WeatherTech SportsCar Championship results=== ([[:Template:Motorsport driver results legend|key]]) (Races in '''bold''' indicate pole position) (Races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap) {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%" ! Year ! Entrant ! Class ! Make ! Engine ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Championship position}} ! Pts |- | [[2014 United SportsCar Championship|2014]] ! [[JDC MotorSports|JDC-Miller MotorSports]] ! PC ! [[Oreca FLM09]] ! [[Chevrolet]] [[LS based GM small-block engine|LS3]] 6.2 L [[V8 engine|V8]] | [[2014 24 Hours of Daytona|DAY]] |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2014 12 Hours of Sebring|SEB]] {{small|4}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2014 Monterey Grand Prix|LGA]] {{small|6}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2014 Kansas Grand Prix|KAN]] {{small|10}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2014 6 Hours of The Glen|WGL]] {{small|6}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2014 Brickyard Grand Prix|IMS]] {{small|7}} |style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[2014 Continental Tire Road Race Showcase|ELK]] {{small|3}} | [[2014 Oak Tree Grand Prix|VIR]] |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2014 Lone Star Le Mans|COA]] {{small|7}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2014 Petit Le Mans|PET]] {{small|6}} | ! 9th ! 210 |- | [[2015 United SportsCar Championship|2015]] ! [[JDC MotorSports|JDC-Miller MotorSports]] ! PC ! [[Oreca FLM09]] ! [[Chevrolet]] LS3 6.2 L [[V8 engine|V8]] |style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[2015 24 Hours of Daytona|DAY]] {{small|3}} | [[2015 12 Hours of Sebring|SEB]] | [[2015 Monterey Grand Prix|LGA]] |style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[2015 Chevrolet Sports Car Classic|DET]] {{small|2}} | [[2015 6 Hours of The Glen|WGL]] | [[2015 SportsCar Grand Prix|MOS]] |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2015 Northeast Grand Prix|LIM]] {{small|6}} | [[2015 Continental Tire Road Race Showcase|ELK]] | [[2015 Lone Star Le Mans|COA]] | [[2015 Petit Le Mans|PET]] | ! 16th ! 90 |- | [[2016 IMSA SportsCar Championship|2016]] ! [[JDC MotorSports|JDC-Miller MotorSports]] ! PC ! [[Oreca FLM09]] ! [[Chevrolet]] LS3 6.2 L [[V8 engine|V8]] |style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[2016 24 Hours of Daytona|DAY]] {{small|1}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2016 12 Hours of Sebring|SEB]] {{small|4}} |style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[2016 BUBBA Burger Sports Car Grand Prix|LBH]] {{small|1}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2016 Monterey Grand Prix|LGA]] {{small|5}} |style="background:#efcfff;"| [[2016 Chevrolet Sports Car Classic|DET]] {{small|7}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2016 6 Hours of The Glen|WGL]] {{small|4}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2016 SportsCar Grand Prix|MOS]] {{small|5}} |style="background:#efcfff;"| [[2016 Northeast Grand Prix|LIM]] {{small|6}} |style="background:#efcfff;"| [[2016 Continental Tire Road Race Showcase|ELK]] {{small|7}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2016 Lone Star Le Mans|COA]] {{small|6}} |style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[2016 Petit Le Mans|PET]] {{small|3}} !style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3rd !style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 317 |- | [[2017 IMSA SportsCar Championship|2017]] ! [[JDC MotorSports|JDC-Miller MotorSports]] ! P ! [[Oreca 07]] ! [[Gibson Technology|Gibson]] GK428 4.2 L [[V8 engine|V8]] |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2017 24 Hours of Daytona|DAY]] {{small|5}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2017 12 Hours of Sebring|SEB]] {{small|4}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2017 BUBBA Burger Sports Car Grand Prix|LBH]] {{small|4}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2017 Advance Auto Parts Sportscar Showdown|COA]] {{small|4}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2017 Chevrolet Sports Car Classic|DET]] {{small|6}} |style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[2017 6 Hours of The Glen|WGL]] {{small|2}} |style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[2017 Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix|MOS]] {{small|2}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2017 Continental Tire Road Race Showcase|ELK]] {{small|8}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2017 Monterey Grand Prix|LGA]] {{small|4}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2017 Petit Le Mans|PET]] {{small|6}} | !4th !277 |- | [[2018 IMSA SportsCar Championship|2018]] ! [[JDC MotorSports|JDC-Miller MotorSports]] ! P ! [[Oreca 07]] ! [[Gibson Technology|Gibson]] GK428 4.2 L [[V8 engine|V8]] |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2018 24 Hours of Daytona|DAY]] {{small|7}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2018 12 Hours of Sebring|SEB]] {{small|7}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2018 BUBBA Burger Sports Car Grand Prix|LBH]] {{small|8}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2019 Sports Car Challenge of Mid-Ohio|MOH]] {{small|7}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2018 Chevrolet Sports Car Classic|DET]] {{small|11}} |style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[2018 6 Hours of The Glen|WGL]] {{small|1}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2018 SportsCar Grand Prix|MOS]] {{small|7}} |style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[2018 Continental Tire Road Race Showcase|ELK]] {{small|2}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2018 Monterey Grand Prix|LGA]] {{small|6}} |style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[2018 Petit Le Mans|PET]] {{small|10}} | !4th !252 |- | [[2019 IMSA SportsCar Championship|2019]] ! [[JDC MotorSports|JDC-Miller MotorSports]] ! DPi ! [[Cadillac DPi-V.R]] ! [[Cadillac]] 5.5L V8 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[2019 24 Hours of Daytona|DAY]] {{small|10}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[2019 12 Hours of Sebring|SEB]] {{small|8}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[2019 BUBBA Burger Sports Car Grand Prix|LBH]] {{small|5}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[2019 Sports Car Challenge of Mid-Ohio|MOH]] {{small|7}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[2019 Chevrolet Sports Car Classic|DET]] {{small|4}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[2019 6 Hours of The Glen|WGL]] {{small|9}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[2019 Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix|MOS]] {{small|8}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[2019 Road Race Showcase at Road America|ELK]] {{small|9}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[2019 Monterey Grand Prix|LGA]] {{small|9}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[2019 Petit Le Mans|PET]] {{small|5}} | ! 8th ! 237 |- | rowspan=1| [[2020 IMSA SportsCar Championship|2020]] ! [[JDC MotorSports|JDC-Miller MotorSports]] ! DPi ! [[Cadillac DPi-V.R]] ! [[Cadillac]] 5.5 L [[V8 engine|V8]] | [[2020 24 Hours of Daytona|DAY]] | [[2020 WeatherTech 240|DAY]] |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[2020 Cadillac Grand Prix of Sebring|SEB]] {{small|8}} | [[2020 IMSA SportsCar Weekend|ELK]] |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[2020 TireRack.com Grand Prix at Road Atlanta|ATL]] {{small|8}} | [[2020 Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio|MOH]] | [[2020 Petit Le Mans|ATL]] |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[2020 Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship|LGA]] {{small|8}} |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[2020 12 Hours of Sebring|SEB]] {{small|4}} |colspan=2| ! 14th ! 97 |- !colspan="19"|{{center|{{small|Source:<ref>{{cite web|title=Stephen Simpson Results|url=https://motorsportstats.com/driver/stephen-simpson/results|publisher=Motorsport Stats|access-date=21 September 2025}}</ref>}}}} |}

==References== {{Reflist}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060823233749/http://southafrica.a1gp.com/ A1 GP South Africa site] – Driver biography page

==External links== * [http://www.stephen-simpson.com/ Stephen Simpson web site]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, Stephen}} [[Category:1984 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Indy Lights drivers]] [[Category:South African racing drivers]] [[Category:Atlantic Championship drivers]] [[Category:Italian Formula Renault 2.0 drivers]] [[Category:British Formula Renault 2.0 drivers]] [[Category:Formula Renault Eurocup drivers]] [[Category:A1 Team South Africa drivers]] [[Category:American Le Mans Series drivers]] [[Category:European Le Mans Series drivers]] [[Category:WeatherTech SportsCar Championship drivers]] [[Category:24 Hours of Daytona drivers]] [[Category:Alumni of South African College Schools]] [[Category:Extreme Speed Motorsports drivers]] [[Category:JDC Motorsports drivers]] [[Category:Bryan Herta Autosport drivers]] [[Category:A1 Grand Prix drivers]] [[Category:Durango (racing team) drivers]] [[Category:DAMS drivers]] [[Category:Michelin Pilot Challenge drivers]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Poole]] [[Category:South African expatriate sportspeople in the United States]] [[Category:21st-century South African sportsmen]] [[Category:12 Hours of Sebring drivers]] [[Category:IMSA Prototype Challenge drivers]] [[Category:Grasser Racing Team drivers]] [[Category:Petit Le Mans drivers]] [[Category:Creation Autosportif drivers]]