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SIMPSON EASES TO VIRGINIA

SIMPSON EASES TO VIRGINIA

20/08/2016, USA, Motorsport - Road Racing, IMSA Sportscar Championship, Article # 19078543
Who t.b.a.
What IMSA Sports Prodcution
Where VIR Raceway, Virginia USA
When 27-28 August 2016

A quiet weekend for Stephen for once
 

South Africa's US IMSA racing star Stephen Simpson is set for a relatively easy weekend at the Virginia International Raceway over the weekend of 27-28 August as he will only be racing one car there, rather than the usual two. 

"I will only be racing the BMW at VIR as the Prototype Challenge does not race at that track and our JDC Miller Motorsports Hi-Tide Red Line ORECA Chevrolet stays at home this weekend," Stephen explained. "I am however still quite excited to get back behind the wheel of the JDC Miller Motorsports BMW 228i M-Sport. 

"We've been developing the car during race weekends, which is a challenge, but we're making progress and that's important. "Michael has been doing a great job, I am so impressed with his progress, he really is driving well." Simpson's paraplegic teammate Michael Johnson has the unique distinction of driving using hand controls, while Stephen drives using the BMW's regular pedals and gearshift.

"VIR is an enjoyably track to drive," Stephen concluded. "It has a mix of fast flowing corners and slower tighter bends and there's enough elevation to make it a challenge as well"

 

Follow Stephen Simpson and Michael Johnson in action in Virginia via live streaming and live timing at www.imsa.com through the weekend of27-28 August.



Issued on behalf of Stephen Simpson


 
  
Stephen hits trouble in Wisconsin

Stephen hits trouble in Wisconsin

08/08/2016, USA, Motorsport - Road Racing, IMSA Sportscar Championship, Article # 18915301
STEPHEN'S DOUBLE JEOPARDY
Who t.b.a.
What IMSA Weathertech Prototype Challenge
Where Wlkhart Lake, Wisconsin, USA
When 6-7 August 2016

Stephen hits trouble in Wisconsin
 

South African US IMSA Prototype Challenge racer Stephen Simpson had a difficult weekend in Wisconsin when both the cars he raced at Elkhart Lake ended their races in accidents while trying to avoid bigger trouble on track. 

Stephen did not get to race in the Continental Tyre Sports Production race after teammate Michael Johnson went off the toad in the JDM Miller BMW 228i as he dodged another spinning car after a promising run, but Stephen's trip into the tyre wall six laps from the end of the Weathertech Prototype Challenge race was an even tougher pill to swallow as he was challenging for second at the time of the incident.

"Sadly that was another tough end to our day," Stephen explained. "We were running a strong second for a lot of the of the race after my teammate Misha Goikhberg recovered well from an early spin, before we dropped back as the pit stops cycled. 

"Then I overtook a few cars and got us back up to third and was challenging for second with 15 minutes to go, when the Starworks car running in second suffered a mechanical problem and crashed right in front of me and in my efforts to avoid having a big crash by hitting Renger, I ended up going off and slamming pretty hard into the tyre wall. 

"I am gutted for the team and all their hard work - that's a very disappointing end to what was going to be a strong result."

Saturday's result however served to shake up the Weathertech IMSA Production Challenge championship and despite the late crash, Simpson and Goikhberg were still classified seventh behind the championship leading Alex Popow and Renger van der Zande's Starworks Oreca, while Tom Kimber-Smith and Robert Alon won the race in the PR1 Mathaisen Oreca.

That leaves Popow and van der Zande in the PC championship lead ,10 points clear of Kimber-Smith and Alon, with Simpson and Goikhberg third with three races still to run. "We owe it to the team to win again," Stephen Simpson concluded. "We were on for a very good result, only for that to be nipped in the bud right at the end this weekend, now we need to take it all the way at the Virginia International Raceway in three weeks time." 

 



Issued on behalf of Stephen Simpson

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STEPHEN'S YEN FOR WISCONSIN

STEPHEN'S YEN FOR WISCONSIN

29/07/2016, USA, Motorsport - Road Racing, IMSA Sportscar Championship, Article # 18789168
STEPHEN'S YEN FOR WISCONSIN 
Who Stephen Simpson
What IMSA Prototype Challenge & Sport Production
Where Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin USA
When 9-10 August 2016

Simpson craving racing on favoutrte track
 

South Africa's Stephen Simpson is looking forward to one of his favourite weekends on the at IMSA calendar when the series heads to Elkhart Lake over the weekend of 9-10 August. 

The Indianapolis-based Capetonian is on double-race duty again, sharing the JDC Miller Motorsports Hi-Tide Red Line ORECA Chevrolet with regular Russo-Canadian co-driver Misha Goikhberg in the WeatherTech Prototype Challenge and the JDC Miller BMW 228i with disabled co-driver Michael Johnson in the Continental Sports Production race.

Simpson and Goikhberg are keen to return to their winning ways in the PC race following victories in the Daytona 24-hour and the Grand Prix of Long Beach earlier in the season: "Road America is a great track, one of the best in the country," Stephen reports. "It's a long lap and has some very challenging, fast corners. "Last time I raced there in the WeatherTech series we finished third and the JDC Miller Motorsports team has once again put in a lot of hard work and effort, so I'm determined to reward them with a great finish.

"I am also most excited to continue our good progress with the BMW in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge," Simpson added. "My teammate Michael Johnson has been doing such a good job and I'm looking forward to keeping on moving up the grid."

 

Catch Stephen in action in both IMSA PC and Production Sportscar races via streaming at the Wisconsin raceway at www.imsa.com throughout the weekend of 9-10 August.



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Lime Rock keeps Simpson busy

Lime Rock keeps Simpson busy

24/07/2016, USA, Motorsport - Road Racing, IMSA Sportscar Championship, Article # 18731115

ROLLERCOASTER STEPHEN

Who Stephen Simpson
What IMSA Prototype Challenge & Sport Production
Where Lime Rock, Connecticut USA
When 23 July 2016


Lime Rock keeps Simpson busy

 

 

Stephen Simpson had a busy and emotional weekend with the US IMSA race roadshow visited Lime Rock in Connecticut over the weekend - a good race in his Sport Production BMW, a stirring comeback in the Prototype Challenge Oreca Chevy and sad news from home.

"It has been a busy 2 days at the track racing in both the WeatherTech and the Continental Tire races," Stephen admitted. "We made good progress with the JDC Miller Motorsport BMW and were able to overtake a few cars towards the second half - my teammate, Michael Johnson drove a great race and is making great improvements every time he is in the car. 

"I drove the second half of the race and we ultimately finished sixteenth after the race stayed green the whole way without any caution periods, which is quite unusual!" Being disabled, US driver Johnson uniquely drives the BMW with hand controls, while Simpson pedals conventionally.

The Prototype Challenge proved a more demanding race for Simpson, Canadian co-driver Goikhberg and the Hi-Tide Red Line JDC Miller ORECA Chevrolet, but Stephen non the less drove an inspired race to wrest some most valuable points. "The PC race was a challenge," Simpson admitted. "My teammate Misha had contact with a lapped GT car early in the race which resulted in heavy damage to the rear of our car. 

"The JDC Miller Motorsports guys were once again fantastic in repairing the car so quickly, which meant we were able to get back out and finish the race to earn us a valuable points haul and we also managed to make up two more positions in the race by fixing it and getting back out."

It was however a most emotional weekend for Stephen, who lost a great friend in Gugu Zulu, when the 'Fastest Brother in Africa' succumbed to altitude sickness while scaling Mount Kilimanjaro last Sunday. "My good friend Gugu Zulu has constantly been on my mind this week," Stephen rued. "I am battling to accept what has happened and what a tragedy this is - it feels unreal that 2 weeks ago Gugu and Letshego were in my mind daily as I didn't want to forget to make a donation for their Trek4Mandela trip before they left and now they are on my mind for another reason. 

"I had a sticker on my helmet in memory of Gugs over the weekend. "It will have a place on my helmet for the rest of my career."

 

The next races in Stephen's busy double-IMSA schedule are in 2 weeks at Road America.

 


Issued on behalf of Stephen Simpson

 

 

 

 

    

SIMPSON SEEKS GLEN REVENGE

SIMPSON SEEKS GLEN REVENGE

24/06/2016, USA, Motorsport - Road Racing, IMSA Sportscar Championship, Article # 18362178
SIMPSON SEEKS GLEN REVENGE
SA’s Stephen Simpson, Goikhberg & Miller intent to make IMSA PC amends at Watkins Glen
 
RACE REPORT
Who: Stephen Simpson
What: IMSA Prototype Challenge 
Round 6 & Sportscar Challenge Round 5
Where: Sahlen’s Six Hour, Watkins Glen, New York, US
When: 4 June 2016

 
South Africa’s Stephen Simpson, regular Russian-Canadian co-driver Misha Goikhberg and American Chris Miller head to the classic Sahlen’s Six Hour at the Watkins Glen looking to make amends following a whirlwind recovery by the Hi-Tide Red Line JDC Miller team to get its #85 ORECA Chevrolet on track to scrape together a few desperate points at Detroit last time out.
 
“More than anything, I want to go out and win this race for the JDC Miller Motorsport guys,” Simpson admitted. “They really deserve it after they did such a great job repairing and rebuilding the car Detroit.
 
“Watkins Glen’s is a 6-hour race, so Chris Miller will be joining Misha and me in the driver line up. “The lads at Watkins Glen did a great job when they recently repaved the surface, which has massively increased the grip levels on what has always been a fast track, so now its even faster,” Stephen pointed out of the circuit that hosted the US Grand Prix, back in the days of Jackie Stewart and Jody Scheckter. “We had a successful test there a few weeks ago and that went well, so we have good reason to feel we can have a strong weekend.”
 
Indianapolis-based Capetonian Simpson and regular teammate Goikhberg head to Watkins Glen International placed third in the Weathertech IMSA PC standings, having won the Daytona 24 Hour and the Long Beach streetrace before their more recent challenges, but they sit just nine points behind log leaders Renger Van Der Zande and Alex Popow and six points adrift of Robert Alon and Tom Kimber-Smith in second.
 
Stephen will do double-duty at Watkins Glen, also racing a BMW 2-series in IMSA’s sister Continental Production Sportscar championship. “We have been testing the BMW for the last two days and think we will have something we can be competitive in for Watkins Glen next week,” Simpson explained. “The race weekends are nice and busy when I race the BMW on the same weekends as the PC car — typically the BMW races are on the Saturdays and the PC races are on Sundays.” 
 
Catch Stephen Simpson in action in both Sahlen’s Six Hour at the Watkins Glen and in his Production Sportscar race via streaming at www.imsa.com throughout the weekend of 1-3 July.
 
 
 
Issued on behalf of Stephen Simpson Racing
 
#stephensimpsonracing #lionsportusa 
 
 
IMAGES: Stephen Simpson is keen to repeat his Daytona 24 victory at the six hours of Watkins Glen
 
MIRACLE POINTS FOR MISHA, STEPHEN

MIRACLE POINTS FOR MISHA, STEPHEN

06/06/2016, USA, Motorsport - Road Racing, IMSA Sportscar Championship, Article # 18127403
MIRACLE POINTS FOR MISHA, STEPHEN
Incredible team feat sees SA’s Simpson & Goikhberg to shock Belle Isle points
 
 
 
RACE REPORT
Who: Stephen Simpson
What: IMSA Prototype Challenge Round 5
Where: 
Chevrolet Sports Car Classic, Belle Isle, Detroit US
When: 4 June 2016


 
South Africa’s Stephen Simpson and Russian-Canadian co-driver Misha Goikhberg may have come away with slim points pickings from Saturday’s Belle Isle Detroit IMSA PC streetrace, but that they scored any points at all is down to some incredible teamwork and an almost fairytale story as the #85 Hi-Tide Red Line JDC Miller ORECA Chevrolet crew pulled off the remarkable feat of totally rebuilding the ORECA Chevrolet in two hours before the race start.
 
The trouble started when Goikhberg was involved in a warmup accident that initially looked set to put the championship-leading Minnesota-based team out of the race. Then it became apparent that rivals BAR1 Motorsports had a spare chassis on hand and the teams quickly came to an agreement that allowed JDC Miller to lease the spare tub for the weekend.

There were just two hours left before the start but the JDC Miller lads took on the challenge despite the fact that the chassis was of an older specification and that IMSA rules required everything else to be transferred across from the damaged JDC Miller tub in an incredible effort that saw  the rear-end of the JDC-Miller car mated with BAR1’s tub in record time with the assistance BAR1 team rivals including team owner Brian Alder. 


They missed the start but the combined effort was enough to see Goikhberg on track and although he initially stopped on his out lap and later ran into the barriers, he was able to drive the minimum race time and quite amazingly bring the JDM Miller Oreca Chevrolet home a provisional sixth to claim those vital championship points for him and Simpson.


“We literally stripped our car down and rebuilt another car out of it in the space of two hours,” Indianapolis-based South African Stephen Simpson explained. “It was not a simple task to either build or drive — the steering column on the BAR1 car is or instance opposite to how it is on ours, so Misha ended up driving with the steering wheel upside down and the paddles on the wrong sides and I can tell you for a fact that it was a real handful to drive.”

“The steering wheel was upside down and the fuel pumps in that car were wired differently,” JDM-Miller team co-owner John Church added. “So the reserve pump shut off when Misha finally got out there and not having telemetry, we had no idea what was going on, but we  figured it out and then stopped every 10 minutes to keep the fuel cell full. “It was a mess; there was no way to fix it and I guess it’s frustrating to have days like this, but we got those points, so it could have been worse.” 
 
The JDM Miller guys may have lost the points lead to PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports outfit, which finished third on Saturday, but those sixth-place points could very end up playing a vital part in the outcome of the championship come October and every single one of them can be put down to an incredible piece of teamwork and cooperation. “I’m sure come Road Atlanta at the end of this year, we’ll be thankful that we made the effort today.” Stephen Simpson concluded. 
 
The IMSA PC championship travels to the six hours of Watkins Glen New York next on the eve of Independence day 3 July. 
 
 
Issued on behalf of Stephen Simpson Racing
 
#stephensimpsonracing #lionsportusa 
 
 
IMAGES:
Pits: Action stations as the JDM Miller team rebuilds the Oreca Chevy in two hours. Image - John Dagys
Car: Misca Goikhberg pedals the rapidly rebuilt JDM Miller Oreca to vital points. Image - Brian Cleary
Helmet: Stephen Simpson. Image - John Dagys
 
SIMPSON SET FOR DETROIT STREETFIGHT

SIMPSON SET FOR DETROIT STREETFIGHT

27/05/2016, USA, Motorsport - Road Racing, IMSA Sportscar Championship, Article # 18005550
SIMPSON SET FOR DETROIT STREETFIGHT
Stephen looking for back-to-back street-race glory at Belle Isle
 
 
Who: Stephen Simpson
What: IMSA Prototype Challenge Round 5
Where: 
Chevrolet Sports Car Classic, Belle Isle, Detroit US
When: 4 June 2016

 
 
South Africa’s Stephen Simpson and Canadian co-driver Misha Goikhberg head to Detroit intent on bouncing back following a testing US IMSA Prototype Challenge round at Laguna Seca in May with the #85 Hi-Tide Red Line JDC Miller ORECA Chevrolet. The duo however retains the joint championship lead, something Simpson insists should be their own come Saturday evening.
 
“That Laguna Seca brawl did not favour us very much,” Simpson pointed out. “It was a bruising affair, but at least we cam back in albeit a shared championship lead, so it wan’t all that bad. “We intend to set it right at Belle Isle though and following our last win on a street circuit at Long Beach, we want to continue where we left off…”
 
Simpson and Goikhberg won at both the Daytona 24-hour and the Long Beach, while their principal rivals Robert Alon and Tom Kimber-Smith took the Laguna Seca honours. “It’s always great to be involved in a tight championship tussle - especially for the fans, but it’s quite stressful too - all part of the job and now we must just to it to also reward the great work the team continues to do to give us an awesome car every time.”
 
Catch Stephen Simpson in action in the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic live via streaming at www.imsa.com from 18h30 SA time Saturday 4 June.
 
 
 
SIMPSON FIFTH AFTER LAGUNA SECA BRAWL

SIMPSON FIFTH AFTER LAGUNA SECA BRAWL

02/05/2016, USA, Motorsport - Road Racing, IMSA Sportscar Championship, Article # 17711984
 


SIMPSON FIFTH AFTER LAGUNA SECA BRAWL
SA’s Stephen Simpson fights to fifth in bruising California IMSA race bout
 
RACE REPORT
Who: Stephen Simpson
What: IMSA Prototype Challenge Round 4
Where: Monterey Grand Prix, Laguna Seca, Ca. USA
When: 1 May 2016
 
 
South African Stephen Simpson and Canadian co-driver Misha Goikhberg ended fifth in a grinding Monterey Grand Prix US IMSA Prototype Challenge round at Laguna Seca, California Sundayevening following an intense dice to the flag to keep the #85 Hi-Tide Red Line JDC Miller ORECA Chevrolet duo in the championship lead.
 
Goikhberg started in sixth and handed the car to Simpson midway through the race in fifth position. The Indianapolis-based Capetonian then drove up to third among a six-car spat but wild racing though heavy traffic, tyre degradation and a late incident that ripped the rear bodywork off the Oreca all played their part to see Simpson end fifth after a hard day’s racing. 
 
“It was a tough race,” Simpson admitted. “Really hard racing — in fact I finished without any rear bodywork on the car! “I really wanted to get on the podium for all the guys’ hard work, but we weren’t quite fast enough at the end. “I’m not concerned about the points right now — we’re taking it race by race, but I want to win races for the team.” 
 
Simpson also competed in IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge sharing a JDC Miller Motorsports BMW 228i specially equipped with hand controls for paralysed co-driver Michael Johnson, who made a historic race debut. The car however refused to run properly all weekend, leaving Simpson without a race stint after Johnson stopped after losing power early on. 
 
The IMSA series now heads to Detroit for the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic at the Belle Isle Park Raceway 3-4 June.
 
 
 
IMAGE: SA’s Stephen Simpson’s JDM Miller Oreca-Chevrolet  dives through the infamous Laguna Seca Corkscrew 
 
SIMPSON TARGETS ANOTHER CALIFORNIA WIN

SIMPSON TARGETS ANOTHER CALIFORNIA WIN

22/04/2016, USA, Motorsport - Road Racing, IMSA Sportscar Championship, Article # 17589501
RACE PREVIEW
Who:
 Stephen Simpson
What: IMSA Prototype Challenge Round 4
Where: Monterey Grand Prix, Laguna Seca, Ca. USA
When: 1 May 2016


SIMPSON TARGETS ANOTHER CALIFORNIA WIN
SA’s Stephen Simpson & Canadian teammate Goikhberg seek more IMSA success at Laguna Seca
 
South African Stephen Simpson heads to Laguna Seca intent on extending his advantage at the top of the US IMSA Prototype Challenge championship at the series’ fourth round Sunday 1 May.Simpson, who with Canadian co-driver Misha Goikhberg lead the PC title chase by nine points, goes to the Monterey Grand Prix with only another victory in mind for the #85 Hi-Tide Red Line JDC Miller ORECA Chevrolet.
 
“We’ve had a great start to the season and take a small championship advantage to Laguna Seca,” the Indianapolis-based Capetonian explained. “Now the objective is to keep on winning so we can be be sure to extend our advantage — we have some pretty tough competition in the form of Alex Popow and Renger van der Zande and Tom Kimber-Smith and Robert Alon in the two cars within ten points of us, but we have won two of the three races so far and we plan to keep that momentum going.
 
“The JDC Miller Motorsports team continues to work on its advantage and has done an outstanding job so far — everyone is working together and so far the plan has come together - now its up to Misha and me to bring it home in front again”
 
The second of two back-to back IMSA Prototype Challenge races in California, the two-hour Continental Monterey IMSA PC Grand Prix starts at 20h15 SA time on 1 May with the race streamed live via www.imsa.com.
 
 
 
 
IMAGE: SA’s Stephen Simpson wants to continue his IMSA PC winning ways at Laguna Seca