Simpson set to move to Indy Lights with TJ Speed Motorsports
OCT 25, 2021
17-year-old Cayman Island racer Kyffin Simpson has confirmed his plans for 2022, signing a deal with long-term partners TJ Speed Motorsports for his debut Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires.
TJ Speed and Simpson have proven to be a powerful combination through 2021, securing five wins and a further six podiums on their way to a 65-point FR Americas championship lead.
A clean sweep of three victories at the season-opener established Simpson as the driver to beat despite TJ Speed being the newest operation on the grid, a testament both to Simpson’s ability and TJ Speed owner Tim Neff’s meticulous approach.
“I’m really excited to confirm my 2022 Indy Lights program with TJ Speed Motorsport,” Simpson said. “ It’s another important step to reach my overall goal, racing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. With INDYCAR resuming management of the series from next season, things are looking positive for the future.”
Alongside his FR Americas program, Simpson competed in 16 rounds of the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires with Juncos Hollinger Racing, scoring a debut podium at the IMS Grand Prix of Indianapolis in May.
He followed that success with two further podiums before scheduling conflicts withdrew the #21 car from the final rounds, sealing eighth in the series standings.
Simpson is no stranger to the 450hp Dallara IL-15 machine, having completed over 2,000 miles of testing across four tracks since shaking down TJ Speed’s first Indy Lights car in August. He will lead the team’s preparations at the official Chris Griffis Memorial Open Test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, October 30-31.
“The IL-15 is great to drive. Tim, the team and I have been working hard to understand what it needs to get that last 5 percent out of it, and I feel pretty confident I will be challenging at the front from the season-opener” Simpson said. “I wouldn’t be here without Tim’s support and I’m grateful we can make this step together, just one year after I started working with him, and two years after I made my car racing debut.”
“All of us at TJ Speed are excited to have Kyffin sign with us for Indy Lights,” Neff said. “We’ve had great success in Formula Regional this year and are hard at work to prepare for the next step of Kyffin's career. Testing in the IL-15 has been going great. We have been to Autobahn, Barber, Homestead and Road America so far and Kyff hasn't put a foot wrong.”