# Stephen Simpson

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South African racing driver (born 1984)

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For other people with the same name, see [Steve Simpson (disambiguation)](/source/Steve_Simpson_(disambiguation)).

Stephen Simpson Simpson at the 2017 Petit Le Mans Nationality South African Born (1984-01-08) 8 January 1984 (age 42) Poole, Dorset, England WeatherTech SportsCar Championship career Current team JDC-Miller MotorSports Categorisation FIA Gold (until 2013)[1] FIA Silver (2014–) Car number 85 Engine Cadillac 5.5L V8 Co-driver Chris Miller Juan Piedrahita Simon Trummer

**Stephen Simpson** (born 8 January 1984) is a [South African](/source/South_Africa)-[American](/source/South_African_Americans)[2] professional racing driver currently competing in the [IMSA](/source/International_Motor_Sports_Association) [WeatherTech SportsCar Championship](/source/WeatherTech_SportsCar_Championship) and previously in the [A1 Grand Prix](/source/A1_Grand_Prix), [Champ Car Atlantic Championship](/source/Champ_Car_Atlantic_Championship) and the Indy Pro Series, among others.

## Biography

Simpson was born on 8 January 1984 in [Poole](/source/Poole), [Dorset](/source/Dorset), [England](/source/England) and he moved to South Africa with his family when he was ten months old. He studied at the [South African College High School](/source/South_African_College_Schools) 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](/source/South_Africa) to compete in the Slick 50 [Formula Ford](/source/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](/source/Donington_Park). He ended the season with a stirring performance in atrocious conditions at [Brands Hatch](/source/Brands_Hatch) in the [Formula Ford Festival](/source/Formula_Ford_Festival).

For 2002, Simpson was signed by [Durango](/source/Durango_(racing_team)) to compete in the [European Formula Renault Championship](/source/Formula_Renault_2000_Masters) and [Italian Championship](/source/Formula_Renault_2000_Italia), 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](/source/Richard_Dean_(racing_driver))'s Team JLR, with which he contested the prestigious [British Formula Renault Championship](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Champ_Car_World_Series) team [Mi-Jack Conquest Racing](/source/Mi-Jack_Conquest_Racing) and reportedly impressed the team with his performance.[3]

In [2007](/source/2007_in_IPS), Simpson signed with Kenn Hardley Racing to compete in the [Indy Pro Series](/source/Indy_Pro_Series).[4] 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](/source/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](/source/Creation_Autosportif)/AIM LMP1 team in Europe and the U.S. before the [Great Recession](/source/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](/source/2014_United_SportsCar_Championship) driving for [JDC-Miller MotorSports](/source/JDC%E2%80%93Miller_MotorSports) in the [Tudor United SportsCar Championship](/source/Tudor_United_SportsCar_Championship). The highlight of the season was a third place finish at [Road America](/source/2014_Continental_Tire_Road_Race_Showcase). In [2015](/source/2015_United_SportsCar_Championship) Simpson raced in selected races in the [Tudor United SportsCar Championship](/source/Tudor_United_SportsCar_Championship) and finished third at the [Daytona 24 Hours](/source/2015_24_Hours_of_Daytona), second at [Detroit](/source/Detroit) and had a pole position at [Lime Rock Park](/source/2015_Northeast_Grand_Prix). During 2015, Simpson was also a race driver for LAP Motorsport, the official team of MINI USA.

Simpson won the [PC](/source/Le_Mans_Prototype_Challenge) class of the Daytona 24 hours in [2016](/source/2016_24_Hours_of_Daytona), part of the [WeatherTech SportsCar Championship](/source/2016_WeatherTech_SportsCar_Championship).

The team moved up to the top prototype category for [2017](/source/2017_WeatherTech_SportsCar_Championship) and enjoyed a number of podium finishes. For [2018](/source/2018_WeatherTech_SportsCar_Championship), Simpson continued to race for JDC-Miller MotorSports in the top Prototype class of the IMSA Weathertech Championship alongside teammates [Misha Goikhberg](/source/Misha_Goikhberg) and [Chris Miller](/source/Chris_Miller_(racing_driver)) in an [Oreca](/source/Oreca_07) [Gibson](/source/Gibson_Technology) [LMP](/source/Le_Mans_Prototype)2 car, winning the [2018 Sahlens 6 Hours of the Glen](/source/2018_6_Hours_of_The_Glen) at [Watkins Glen](/source/Watkins_Glen_International). He also raced with Michael Johnson for the same team in the [Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge](/source/Continental_Tire_Sports_Car_Challenge) in an [Audi RS3 TCR](/source/Audi_RS_3_LMS_TCR) car.

## Racing record

### American open–wheel racing results

([key](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:American_Open_Wheel_driver_results_legend)) (Races in **bold** indicate pole position)

#### Indy Pro Series

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Rank Points Ref 2007 Kenn Hardley Racing HMS 11 STP1 4 STP2 20 INDY 14 MIL 22 IMS1 5 IMS2 11 IOW 19 WGL1 12 WGL2 13 NSH 7 MOH 3 KTY 11 SNM1 4 SNM2 5 CHI 12 9th 312 [5]

### Complete WeatherTech SportsCar Championship results

([key](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Motorsport_driver_results_legend)) (Races in **bold** indicate pole position) (Races in *italics* indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Pos. Pts 2014 JDC-Miller MotorSports PC Oreca FLM09 Chevrolet LS3 6.2 L V8 DAY SEB 4 LGA 6 KAN 10 WGL 6 IMS 7 ELK 3 VIR COA 7 PET 6 9th 210 2015 JDC-Miller MotorSports PC Oreca FLM09 Chevrolet LS3 6.2 L V8 DAY 3 SEB LGA DET 2 WGL MOS LIM 6 ELK COA PET 16th 90 2016 JDC-Miller MotorSports PC Oreca FLM09 Chevrolet LS3 6.2 L V8 DAY 1 SEB 4 LBH 1 LGA 5 DET 7 WGL 4 MOS 5 LIM 6 ELK 7 COA 6 PET 3 3rd 317 2017 JDC-Miller MotorSports P Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 DAY 5 SEB 4 LBH 4 COA 4 DET 6 WGL 2 MOS 2 ELK 8 LGA 4 PET 6 4th 277 2018 JDC-Miller MotorSports P Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 DAY 7 SEB 7 LBH 8 MOH 7 DET 11 WGL 1 MOS 7 ELK 2 LGA 6 PET 10 4th 252 2019 JDC-Miller MotorSports DPi Cadillac DPi-V.R Cadillac 5.5L V8 DAY 10 SEB 8 LBH 5 MOH 7 DET 4 WGL 9 MOS 8 ELK 9 LGA 9 PET 5 8th 237 2020 JDC-Miller MotorSports DPi Cadillac DPi-V.R Cadillac 5.5 L V8 DAY DAY SEB 8 ELK ATL 8 MOH ATL LGA 8 SEB 4 14th 97 Source:[6]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["2013 FIA WEC - Liste des catégorisations des pilotes"](https://motorsport.nextgen-auto.com/IMG/pdf/PilotesCategories.pdf) (PDF). *nextgen-auto.com*. [Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile](/source/F%C3%A9d%C3%A9ration_Internationale_de_l'Automobile). 7 November 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Pruett, Marshall (6 May 2018). ["Simpson, Briscoe become U.S. citizens"](http://racer.com/2018/05/06/simpson-briscoe-become-u-s-citizens/). *RACER*. Retrieved 8 May 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Freeman, Glenn. [Conquest see potential in Simpson](http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/56026), *Autosport.com*, 15 December 2006

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Kenn Hardley signs Simpson](http://www.indycar.com/pro/news/story.php?story_id=8227) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070927210245/http://www.indycar.com/pro/news/story.php?story_id=8227) 27 September 2007 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), IndyCar.com, 19 February 2007

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Stephen Simpson – 2007 Infiniti / Indy Pro Series Results"](https://www.racing-reference.info/driver-season-stats/simpsst01/2007/IL). *Racing-Reference*. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 21 September 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Stephen Simpson Results"](https://motorsportstats.com/driver/stephen-simpson/results). Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 21 September 2025.

- [A1 GP South Africa site](https://web.archive.org/web/20060823233749/http://southafrica.a1gp.com/) – Driver biography page

## External links

- [Stephen Simpson web site](http://www.stephen-simpson.com/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Stephen Simpson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Simpson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Simpson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.