Stephen Simpson
Encyclopedia
Stephen Simpson is an A1 Grand Prix
and Champ Car Atlantic Championship
race car driver. Stephen is a resident of Cape Town
in South Africa
hence his connection to A1 Team South Africa
.
, Dorset
, England
and he moved to South Africa with his family when he was 10 months old. He studied at the South African College High School
and matriculated in 2002.
In 2000 Stephen became the youngest ever driver to win the South African Formula Ford Championship, at the age of 16. In 2001 Stephen left his native South Africa
to compete in the Slick 50 Formula Ford Zetec Championship in Britain. Despite poor funding the youngster was highly impressive beating the 'works' 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
, an event previously won by Eddie Irvine
and Johnny Herbert
.
For 2002 Stephen was signed by Durango
to compete in the European Formula Renault Championship and 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 Stephen high and dry, without a drive. Undaunted, the youngster concentrated on his fitness, and continued looking for the right drive.
For 2004, Stephen joined 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.
World Cup of Motorsport in winter 2005, helping A1 Team South Africa to 17th 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. Stephen also continued to drive for Team JLR in British Formula Renault.
For 2006 he was signed to drive for Gelles Racing in the Champ Car Atlantic Series, he left the series after three races, with a best finish of 5th. 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.
In 2007
he signed with Kenn Hardley Racing to compete in the Indy Pro Series
. He struggled with the oval races on the series, but finished well on the road and street courses, recording a season best 3rd place finish at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
and finished 9th in the championship. Kenn Hardley racing shut down at the end of the season and its assets were sold. Simpson was unable to find another team to continue in the series with in 2008.
A1 Grand Prix
A1 Grand Prix was a 'single make' open-wheel auto racing series. It was unique in its field in that competitors solely represented their nation as opposed to themselves or a team, the usual format in most formula racing series. As such, it was often promoted as the "World Cup of Motorsport"...
and Champ Car Atlantic Championship
Champ Car Atlantic Championship
The Cooper Tires presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda was a formula race car series with races throughout North America. It is often colloquially referred to as the Atlantic Championship, Champ Car Atlantics , Toyota Atlantics , or just Atlantics or Formula...
race car driver. Stephen is a resident of Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
hence his connection to A1 Team South Africa
A1 Team South Africa
A1 Team South Africa is the South African team of A1 Grand Prix, an international racing series.- Management :A1 Team South Africa owner is Tokyo Sexwale. The Chief Executive Officer of the team is Dana Cooper and the technical and sporting manager is Mike Carroll...
.
Biography
Stephen was born on January 8, 1984 in PoolePoole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and he moved to South Africa with his family when he was 10 months old. He studied at the South African College High School
South African College Schools
The South African College Schools, commonly referred to as SACS, is a primary and secondary education institution located in Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa. Founded in 1829, it is the oldest school in South Africa and one of four schools expressly named by Cecil John Rhodes to offer an annual...
and matriculated in 2002.
Early career
Stephen began karting at the age of 8 and won several regional and national karting titles.In 2000 Stephen became the youngest ever driver to win the South African Formula Ford Championship, at the age of 16. In 2001 Stephen left his native South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to compete in the Slick 50 Formula Ford Zetec Championship in Britain. Despite poor funding the youngster was highly impressive beating the 'works' teams on a number of occasions and culminating in being awarded the Motorsport News Race Ace award for his performance at Donington Park
Donington Park
Donington Park is a motorsport circuit near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England.Originally part of the Donington Hall estate, it was created as a racing circuit during the pre-war period when the German Silver Arrows were battling for the European Championship...
. He ended the season with a stirring performance in atrocious conditions at Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events...
in the Formula Ford Festival
Formula Ford Festival
The Formula Ford Festival is an annual meeting of Ford powered single seat racing cars which is held at the end of the British racing season, at the Brands Hatch motor racing circuit in the county of Kent, in Southern England...
, an event previously won by Eddie Irvine
Eddie Irvine
Edmund "Eddie" Irvine, Jr. is a former racing driver from Northern Ireland. He grew up in Conlig, County Down, and was influenced by his parents, who were also involved in motor racing...
and Johnny Herbert
Johnny Herbert
John Paul Herbert is a British racing driver from England. He competed in Formula One, winning three races, and also in sports cars winning the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1991 driving a Mazda 787B...
.
For 2002 Stephen was signed by Durango
Durango
Durango officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Durango is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is located in Northwest Mexico. With a population of 1,632,934, it has Mexico's second-lowest population density, after Baja...
to compete in the European Formula Renault Championship and 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 Stephen high and dry, without a drive. Undaunted, the youngster concentrated on his fitness, and continued looking for the right drive.
For 2004, Stephen joined Richard Dean
Richard Dean
Richard Dean was an athlete, model and photographer, most known for co-hosting Cover Shot, a television makeover show on the American cable TV network TLC.-Biography:...
’s Team JLR, with which he contested the prestigious British Formula Renault Championship
British Formula Renault Championship
The United Kingdom has two Formula Renault championships: Renault Sport UK's Formula Renault UK championship and the British Automobile Racing Club's BARC Formula Renault championship. Generally, the UK series is recognized as the British Formula Renault.-History:The "British Formula Renault...
. He finished second in the Winter Series with two wins and five podiums to his name.
2005 to date
Stephen was brought into race in the inaugural A1 Grand PrixA1 Grand Prix
A1 Grand Prix was a 'single make' open-wheel auto racing series. It was unique in its field in that competitors solely represented their nation as opposed to themselves or a team, the usual format in most formula racing series. As such, it was often promoted as the "World Cup of Motorsport"...
World Cup of Motorsport in winter 2005, helping A1 Team South Africa to 17th 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. Stephen also continued to drive for Team JLR in British Formula Renault.
For 2006 he was signed to drive for Gelles Racing in the Champ Car Atlantic Series, he left the series after three races, with a best finish of 5th. Towards the end of the year he had a test with Champ Car World Series team Mi-Jack Conquest Racing
Mi-Jack Conquest Racing
Conquest Racing is an auto racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series and the Atlantic Championship. Formerly it competed in the Champ Car World Series. It is owned by former series competitor Eric Bachelart...
and reportedly impressed the team with his performance.
In 2007
2007 in IPS
The 2007 Indy Racing League Indy Pro Series started on Saturday March 24 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The season's premiere race is the Freedom 100 on May 25 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The season finale was held at Chicagoland Speedway on September 9...
he signed with Kenn Hardley Racing to compete in the Indy Pro Series
Indy Pro Series
Firestone Indy Lights is a developmental automobile racing series sanctioned by IndyCar. Previously, another series named Indy Lights filled the same role for CART and ran from 1986 to 1993 as the American Racing Series and Dayton Indy Lights from 1991 to 2001...
. He struggled with the oval races on the series, but finished well on the road and street courses, recording a season best 3rd place finish at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a road course auto racing facility located in Troy Township, Morrow County, Ohio, United States, just outside of the village of Lexington...
and finished 9th in the championship. Kenn Hardley racing shut down at the end of the season and its assets were sold. Simpson was unable to find another team to continue in the series with in 2008.