Michael James Simpson (born 13 September 1983) is a British racing driver set to compete in the GT2 European Series for CMR. A staple of Ginetta's racing ventures, he raced in the premier LMP1 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship and now serves as Ginetta Motorsport CEO.

Career Simpson began karting in 1991, competing until 2011. During his karting career, Simpson won the Super One Series three times in Rotax Max and once in Formula KGP, as well as the 2003 Rok Cup International Final in the Senior class.

In the midst of his karting career, Simpson made his car racing debut in 2004, competing in Renault Clio Cup UK. Following one-off appearances in the Ginetta G50 and GT4 European Cups in 2008 and 2009, Simpson made his full-time return to cars in the 2011 British GT Championship for Stark Racing, as he began a long-term relationship with Ginetta Cars. In his first season in the series, Simpson scored two points finishes, with a best result of ninth at Rockingham as he ended the year 25th in the GT3 standings.

Returning to the series for 2012, Simpson competed for Century Motorsport in the GT4 class at Oulton Park, finishing third in race two. Following that, Simpson returned to the GT3 class at Rockingham for Optimum Motorsport, before returning to Team LNT for the final two rounds, in which he scored a best result of fourth at Silverstone. During 2012, Simpson made various one-off appearances for Ginetta-fielding teams in Europe, most notably competing for Nova Race at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and in the Ginetta G50 Cup Italy. After returning to British GT with Team LNT for 2013, Simpson switched to Challenge Endurance GT/Tourisme V de V for the following year, qualifying on pole four times in the seven race season.

Continuing with Team LNT for 2015, Simpson raced with them in both the LMP3 class of the European Le Mans Series and the GT3 class of the British GT Championship. In the former, Simpson took a lone podium in the season-opening Oulton Park round as he ended the season eighth in the GT3 Pro-Am standings. Competing in all but one round of the latter, Simpson finished second on debut at Silverstone and took his only win of the season at Estoril en route to a fourth-place points finish.

Remaining in British GT for 2016, Simpson raced for Tolman Motorsport in GT3 Pro-Am for the second consecutive season, scoring a best result of sixth in race two at Snetterton. In parallel, Simpson raced in the Challenge Endurance V de V for Team LNT, taking four wins and securing the PFV class title at Estoril. At the end of the year, Simpson joined ARC Bratislava to race in the 2016–17 Asian Le Mans Series in the LMP3 class, taking a lone win at Buriram to end the season third in points.

Simpson remained in the V de V Endurance Series for the rest of 2017, driving for both Simpson Motorsport and Pegasus Racing as he scored two wins to end the year third in the PFV points. In parallel, Simpson drove in select rounds of the British GT Championship for Century Motorsport in the GT4 Pro-Am class, in which he finished on the class podium at Donington Park. The following year, Simpson primarily raced in the 24H Proto Series for Simpson Motorsport, coming runner-up in the Continents series after winning all three races, and winning a truncated European Series at Silverstone. During 2018, he also made his FIA World Endurance Championship debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for CEFC TRSM Racing in the LMP1 class. Following a cameo appearance in the LMP3 class of the 2018–19 Asian Le Mans Series for ARC Bratislava, Simpson returned to LMP1 competition by racing in the first four rounds of the 2019–20 FIA World Endurance Championship for Team LNT. After the Ginetta LMP1 programme met its demise in early 2020, Simpson didn't race for the rest of the year, only returning to racing in 2021 with a one-off appearance in the British GT Championship for CWS Engineering in GT4 Pro-Am.

Having been a Ginetta factory driver since 2008, Simpson left the role in 2022 to become the brand's Head of Motorsport. Simpson then made select appearances in the 2022 24H GT Series for CWS Engineering, and the 2023 British GT Championship for Toro Verde GT in GT4 Pro-Am, in which he finished on the class podium three times. In the winter, Simpson drove in the 2023–24 Middle East Trophy for Toro Verde GT, in which he won two of the three races, including a class win at the 2024 Dubai 24 Hour to seal the GTX title. Simpson then joined CMR for 2024, as he raced for them at the 12 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in GTX and select rounds of the European Endurance Prototype Cup in LMP3. Amid a promotion to Ginetta Motorsport CEO in 2025, Simpson made a number of cameos with CMR, most notably taking an overall podium in race one of the Spa round of the GT4 European Series.

At the start of 2026, Simpson raced in the UAE races of the 2025–26 24H Series Middle East for CMR in GTX, finishing on the podium in both races to secure the class title. For the rest of the year, Simpson remained with the team to race in the GT2 European Series.

Karting record Karting career summary SeasonSeriesTeamPosition 1991Karting World Championship — Junior6th 1992Karting World Championship — Formula A26th1993Elf Masters Karting — Karting Stars9thKarting World Championship — Formula Super A7th 2000Lincolnshire Kart Racing Club — Formula Rotax1st 2001Super One Series — Rotax Max3rd 2002Super One Series — Rotax Max2nd 2003Rok Cup International Final — Senior1st2004Super One Series — Rotax Max1stKarting European Championship — ICATeam SimpsonNC2006Super One Series — Rotax Max1stKartmasters British GP — Rotax Senior3rdRMC Grand Finals — DD22nd2007Super One Series — Rotax Max4thRMC Euro Trophy — Senior MaxTeam Simpson Racing3rdKartmasters British GP — Rotax Senior1stKartmasters British GP — Super Libre9thRMC Grand Finals — Senior Max3rd2008Super One Series — KF22ndKarting European Championship — KF2Birel ART RacingNCRMC Euro Trophy — Senior MaxTeam Simpson RacingNCKartmasters British GP — KF21st2009Super One Series — Rotax Max1stKartmasters British GP — Rotax Senior3rdRMC Grand Finals — Senior Max5th2010Rotax Wintercup — Senior Max6thKartmasters British GP — Rotax Senior3rd 2011Super One Series — Formula Kart GP1stSources:

Racing record Racing career summary Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position 2004 Renault Clio Cup UK Tim Sugden Motorsport 15 0 2 1 1 185 11th 2008 Ginetta G50 Cup Privateer 2 0 0 0 0 36 23rd 2009 GT4 European Cup Team LNT 2 0 0 0 1 8 18th 2010 Silverstone 24 Hours – Class 4 Ginetta Cars Ltd. / Team LNT 1 1 0 0 1 1st2011 British GT Championship – GT3 Stark Racing 8 0 0 0 0 3.5 25th Silverstone 24 Hours – Class 2 Rollcentre Racing 1 0 0 0 0 DNF2012 British GT Championship – GT4 Century Motorsport 2 0 0 0 1 27 14th British GT Championship – GT3 Optimum Motorsport 1 0 0 0 14516th Team LNT 2 0 0 0 1 Silverstone 24 Hours – Class 1 1 0 0 0 1 3rd Ginetta G50 Cup Italy Nova Race 6 1 0 0 1 95 17th 24 Hours of Nürburgring – SP10 1 0 0 0 0 8th Swedish GT – GTA Ginetta Cars 1 0 0 0 0 8 28th Ginetta GT5 Challenge 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC†2013 British GT Championship – GT3 Team LNT 9 0 0 0 0 0 NC Ginetta GT Supercup – G50 Privateer 4 2 2 2 4 0 NC† 24 Hours of Nürburgring – SP10 Nova Race 1 0 0 0 1 2nd International GT Open – GTS Team LNT Ginetta 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC2014 Dubai 24 Hour – A6-Am Team LNT 1 0 0 0 0 9th Challenge Endurance GT/Tourisme V de V 7 0 4 2 0 36 22nd British GT Championship – GT3 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC2015 European Le Mans Series – LMP3 Team LNT 4 1 0 0 2 43 4th British GT Championship – GT3 Pro-Am 8 0 0 0 1 54 8th Challenge Endurance GT/Tourisme V de V 3 1 2 2 2 0 NC Silverstone 24 Hours – Class 1 1 0 0 0 1 2nd Group C Racing Championship – Class 1 1 1 0 0 1 31 6th2016 British GT Championship – GT3 Pro-Am Tolman Motorsport 9 0 0 0 0 37 12th Challenge Endurance PFV V de V Team LNT 6 4 6 3 6 2751st 2016–17 Asian Le Mans Series – LMP3 ARC Bratislava 4 1 0 0 2 613rd2017 24H Proto Series – P2 Simpson Motorsport 2 0 0 0 2 24H Series – SP3-GT4 CWS 1 0 0 0 0 24 NC Bathurst 12 Hour – C RA Motorsports - Ginetta 1 0 0 0 0 DNF British GT Championship – GT4 Pro-Am Century Motorsport 7 0 0 0 1 71 9th V de V Endurance Series – PFV Pegasus RacingSimpson Motorsport 5 2 2 2 2 117.53rd2018 24H Proto Series Continents – P2 Simpson Motorsport 3 3 1 0 3 362nd 24H Proto Series European Championship – P2 1 1 1 0 1 281st Bathurst 12 Hour – C Ginetta Australia 1 0 0 0 1 2nd 24H GT Series European Championship – GT4 Endurance Team Romania 1 0 0 0 0 10 NC2018–19 FIA World Endurance Championship – LMP1 CEFC TRSM Racing 1 0 0 0 0 1 38th Asian Le Mans Series – LMP3 ARC Bratislava 1 0 0 0 0 2 14th 2019–20 FIA World Endurance Championship – LMP1 Team LNT 4 0 0 0 0 12.5 19th 2021 British GT Championship – GT4 Pro-Am CWS Engineering 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC 2022 24H GT Series – GT4 CWS Engineering 2 0 0 0 1 22 NC 2023 British GT Championship – GT4 Pro-Am Toro Verde GT 5 0 0 0 3 60 7th 2023–24 Middle East Trophy – GTX Toro Verde GT 3 2 0 0 2 801st2024 24H Series – GTX CMR 1 0 0 0 0 28 9th European Endurance Prototype Cup – LMP3 2 0 0 0 0 1.5 51st2025 Middle East Trophy – GT4 CMR 1 0 0 0 0 32 NC GT4 European Series – Silver 2 0 0 0 1 15 16th French GT4 Cup – GTA 2 1 0 0 2 0 NC 2025–26 24H Series Middle East – GTX CMR 2 0 0 0 2 881st2026 GT2 European Series – Pro-Am CMR French GT4 Cup – Invitational Sources:

† As Simpson was a guest driver, he was ineligible for championship points.

Complete GT4 European Cup results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 DC Pts 2009 Team LNT Ginetta G50 GT4 SIL1 SIL2 ADR1 ADR2 OSC1 OSC2 SPA1 SPA2 ZOL1 ZOL2 ALG1 ALG2 18th 8

Complete British GT Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position in class) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap in class) Year Entrant Chassis Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 DC Pts 2011 Stark Racing Ginetta G55 GT3 GT3 OUL1 OUL2 SNE BRH SPA1 SPA2 ROC1 ROC2 DON SIL 25th 3.52012 Century Motorsport Ginetta G50 GT4 OUL1 OUL2 NUR1 NUR2 14th 27 Optimum Motorsport Ginetta G55 GT3 GT3 ROC BRH SNE1 SNE216th28.5 Team LNT SIL DON 2013 Team LNT Ginetta G55 GT3 GT3 OUL1 OUL2 ROC SIL SNE1 SNE2 BRH ZAN1 ZAN2 DON NC 0 2014 Team LNT Ginetta G55 GT3 GT3 OUL1 OUL2 ROC SIL SNE1 SNE2 SPA1 SPA2 BRH DON NC 0 2015 Team LNT Ginetta G55 GT3 GT3 Pro-Am OUL1 OUL2 ROC SIL SPA BRH SNE1 SNE2 DON 8th 54 2016 Tolman Motorsport Ginetta G55 GT3 GT3 Pro-Am BRH ROC OUL1 OUL2 SIL SPA SNE1 SNE2 DON 12th 37 2017 Century Motorsport Ginetta G55 GT4 GT4 Pro-Am OUL1 OUL2 ROC SNE1 SNE2 SIL SPA1 SPA2 BRH DON 9th 71 2021 CWS Engineering Ginetta G56 GT4 GT4 Pro-Am BRH SIL DON1 SPA SNE1 SNE2 OUL1 OUL2 DON2 NC† 0† 2023 Toro Verde GT Ginetta G56 GT4 GT4 Pro-Am OUL1 OUL2 SIL DON SNE1 SNE2 ALG BRH DON 7th 60

† As Simpson was a guest driver, he was ineligible for championship points.

Complete European Le Mans Series results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 Rank Points 2015 Team LNT LMP3 Ginetta-Juno LMP3 Nissan VK50 5.0L V8 SIL IMO RBR LEC EST 4th 43

Complete Asian Le Mans Series results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) + Year Team Class Car Engine 1 2 3 4 Pos. Points 2016-17 ARC Bratislava LMP3 Ginetta-Juno P3-15 Nissan VK56DE 5.0L V8ZHUFUJCHASEP3rd61 2018–19 ARC Bratislava LMP3 Ginetta-Juno P3-15 Nissan VK50VE 5.0 L V8 SHA FUJ CHA SEP 14th 2

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Rank Points 2018–19 CEFC TRSM Racing LMP1 Ginetta G60-LT-P1 Mecachrome V634P1 3.4 L Turbo V6 SPA LMS SIL FUJ SHA SEB SPA LMS 38th 1 2019–20 Team LNT LMP1 Ginetta G60-LT-P1 AER P60C 2.4 L Turbo V6 SIL FUJ SHA BHR COA SPA LMS BHR 19th 12.5