Cayman-based Simpson, 16, completes the four-strong driver line-up for 2021’s HPD Academy alongside French F4 race-winner Nicky Hays, Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America driver Ashton Harrison, and Cat Lauren, an up-and-coming NASA racer.
Beginning his Academy experience later this week, Kyffin will join Racers Edge Motorsports at Virginia International Raceway on August 11-12 for two days’ testing at the wheel of their Acura NSX GT3 Evo racing car.
The Academy, comprising of four events, aims to replicate the success of the inaugural season which saw its graduates go on to compete in SRO America and IMSA sportscar championships.
Kyffin joins the GT3 Driver Academy at Virginia International Raceway after missing the program’s Mid-Ohio opener due to scheduling conflicts, before heading to Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Sebring International Raceway for additional test days.
Looking forward to a new experience at the wheel of a GT3 car, Kyffin said;
“I’m very excited to join the Honda Academy this week for their second event. It will be an awesome experience and I look forward to learning everything the program has to offer. 2022 is an important season for me, so I think this program will better equip me with the skills I need for the higher ranking championships.”
Reigning IMSA DPi champion and current points leader Ricky Taylor will attend all four outings in support, along with a rotating roster of HPD factory drivers Dane Cameron, Mario Farnbacher and Ryan Eversley.
Three of the four graduates from 2020 are sharing an Acura NSX GT3 Evo this year in the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS, whereas Karl Wittmer, the fourth graduate from last year, recently teamed up with HPD customer team VGMC Racing in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at the wheel of its Honda Civic Type-R TCR.
Founded in 1993, Honda Performance Development (HPD), a wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda, is the technical operations center for Honda’s high-performance racing engines, including the Honda HI19TT Indy V6 engine utilized in NTT INDYCAR SERIES competition.
You can follow and support Kyffin’s progress on social media via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Kyffin is supported by Simpson Race Products, GoPro action cameras, Spy sunglasses, DART, BODDENS and Kokoro Performance driver coaching services.
