Stephen Simpson returned to the cockpit of an Indy Lights car with a Team Moore Racing test at Putnam Park

Team Moore Racing is pleased to announce Stephen Simpson’s plan to return to the Indy Lights series in 2010 with the Indiana-based team. The South African is very familiar with Team Moore Racing, as he was a teammate of Jonathan Klein and TMR co-owner Tom Wood in 2007. This was the team’s first year, when co-owner Mark Moore was pulling double duty as team co-owner for TMR and team manager for Kenn Hardley Racing.

Simpson drove the No. 24 Hardley car, logging five top-fives, with the highlight being an impressive qualifying shootout with eventual champion Alex Lloyd for pole at Mid-Ohio, before coming home third in the race. Throughout the ’07 season, Simpson proved his outright speed and ability to compete at the very top level of motorsports, finishing nintth in the series points championship in his rookie year.

Simpson found an excellent opportunity to race an LMP1 car in 2008, contesting two races in the American Le Mans Series, as well as the European-based Le Mans Series.

This past season unfortunately Simpson was on the sidelines, like many drivers without sponsorship in a faltering economy. But, he was never completely away from Indy Lights, as he was Team Moore Racing’s guest at many race events this year. This close relationship has allowed Simpson to remain in the loop with the team’s philosophy and development.

Most recently the talented South African race pilot returned to the cockpit, testing the Team Moore Racing entry at Putnam Park in Indiana.

“Stephen did a great job for us in the car and never put a wheel wrong all day,” noted co-owner Moore. “Tom and I look forward to competing with him in 2010. It is really great when you have a driver of Stephen’s caliber and knowledge of our series to collaborate with.

“I want to say a huge thank you to Mark and Tom for this fantastic opportunity to be back in an Indy Lights car,” said Simpson. “I have always been made to feel very welcome and at home with TMR. I can’t believe it has been two years since I’ve driven one. But after only 15 laps, I felt completely comfortable in the car. The day went extremely well.”

”We made some small changes and continued to improve the car and started to build on what I hope is going to be a fantastic 2010 season with the team. I will be working extremely hard to get all the sponsorship I can in place to be on the grid in 2010 with TMR.”

“We’d be delighted to see the return of Stephen Simpson to our series,” added Executive Director for Firestone Indy Lights Roger Bailey. “He left here with some unfinished business through no fault of his own. I think he is coming back to finish what he left undone. He will be a welcome addition to our list of drivers.”

source: eformulacarnews.com (Photo: ImageWorks Photography)