FOURTH GENERATION RACER JOINS TRANS AM GRID

Fourth-generation racer James Simpson will join the ever-expanding Trans Am Series grid this year, making his debut in the third round of the campaign at Mount Panorama.

Simpson, who has plied his trade in the Queensland Excel Series over the last three years, has gotten his hands on a brand-new Dodge Challenger and will look to make up for lost time at Bathurst in April.

Behind him is a wealth of experience – Simpson’s father Michael raced in V8 Supercars, Development Series, Formula Ford, HQs and a number of other categories, grandfather Ian won numerous titles in Formula Vee, while great grandfather Cyril was a motorcycle racer.

The 18-year-old was excited to step up onto the national scene in his big V8 Seven82Motors Dodge Challenger.

“Bathurst will be my first round and I hope to do one or two practices before we head there,” Simpson said.

“It will be a nice challenge, never been to Bathurst or raced the car and there are a few differences to get used to. Right-hand to left-hand-drive, front-wheel to rear-wheel-drive, it’ll be pretty interesting, but will be a lot of fun.

“We were looking at a variety of different classes, but we’ve been watching Trans Am since it came out to Australia and we just fell in love with it.”

Simpson will be among some familiar company on the Trans Am grid having raced against Jett Johnson and Nash Morris in Excel competition.

“I raced against Jett (Johnson) a fair bit and Nash (Morris) as well,” he explained.

“Ever since we started racing I wanted to get into Trans Am, so I did a couple seasons in the Excel and I’m ready to make the step up, then Seven82Motors has come on board to give us a hand too.”

Simpson will debut at Bathurst, which will host the third round of the Trans Am Series during the Easter long weekend from April 15-17 as part of the Bathurst 6 Hour weekend.

The next Trans Am Series round is at Phillip Island, featuring as a bumper seven-category opening to the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships from March 18-20.

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