Simpson Back For Toyota 86 Trophy Series
Before that Noel was a regular competitor in the Porsche series between 2021 and 2022 and won the Boxster trophy in both years and the Porsche Cup in the final year.
'The Toyota championship in 2023 was a real eye opener for me,' he said on confirmation of his entry into the four round winter series which begins next month.
'There was lots of talent and fierce competition and a lot to learn as a result of that, but I enjoy the Toyota 86 and am looking forward to getting out there again in the Trophy Series.
'It's a car you have to be very precise with and consistent with especially given how close all of the fields are. And that is the challenge, as there is always something to learn.'
Having taken time out to support his children in international alpine skiing with eight back-to-back winters away travelling around the globe to support them in competition, Noel is looking forward to being able to focus on his racing over the next few months.
'I've been revisiting a lot of the data from 2023 and have run a few test days so hopefully I'm going to be able to hit the ground running and be competitive from the word go.'
Simpson will be backed by Lexel Systems when the series gets underway at Hampton Downs on May 9th.
2025 Toyota 86 Trophy Series
Rd1 9-10 May 2025 Hampton Downs - NZIGP Finale
Rd2 21-22 June 2025 Taupo Int. Motorsport Park - Taupo Winter Series
Rd3 5-6 July 2025 Manfeild – Circuit Chris Amon - Manfeild Winter Series
Rd4 26-27 July 2025 Taupo Int. Motorsport Park - Taupo Winter Series
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
'Mindblowing' win for Toyota-mad Deb
Deb Winter bought a stockpot and a flexi-tub at Mitre 10 Mega Ashburton and won a brand-new $68k double cab ute. The Toyota Hilux SR5 Cruiser Hybrid 4WD was the grand prize in Mitre 10's nationwide Winter Promotion. Yesterday, she collected the keys to her new graphite-coloured ute amid much fanfare at the Ashburton store. 'Just unbelievable,' she said of the win. ''It's really sad that the first thing that you think about is 'oh this is a scam'. Some random rings you and says you've won first prize in and it's a Hilux ute. ''But (it's) just amazing.'' She now has big plans for the new addition and planned to swap out her trusty Toyota Rav for the newer model and head off-road. ''When the universe gives you something that cool, you've got to have fun with it,'' she said. ''I drive a Toyota Rav. I'm a Toyota girl for the last 20 years. Toyota's are just so reliable. 'This is my new baby. I love to go for picnics, love to head to the beach or up into the hills or to the lakes, so this is absolutely ideal. 'I'm going to put my kayak on it, my dog on it and my bike on it and it's just perfect.'' Winter who lives in Ashburton, said she had entered the competition to surprise her youngest son in Australia. Winter, encouraged to enter the draw by the checkout operator, said she thought it would be a great surprise for her Hilux-mad son, Alex, in Australia. But never expected to win. Her name was randomly drawn from more than 200,000 entries nationwide. ''As I was walking out, I thought how cool would (Alex) think it would be if mum had one of those parked up the driveway next time he comes home.'' It got the reaction she thought. She said Alex, age 20, was ''absolutely stoked. He tried to find ways to get it shipped over to Australia''. Winter got to choose her preferred colour with the help of family. Winter's daughter Liv said the timing of the win had been 'truly remarkable'. Her mum had suffered a stroke last month, and scans had discovered a cancerous mass in her brain. The call from Mitre 10 was the very same day her mum had met with her oncologist, she said. ''The timing of that call was truly remarkable – it brought light and hope to a very difficult moment in her life. ' 'Winning the Hilux has not only lifted her spirits but has given her something to look forward to. It's become a symbol of strength and healing for her, and it's helping us transport her more comfortably to her regular medical appointments. ''She's even planning future adventures with her truck, and it's been wonderful to see her eyes light up again.'' In store for the celebration, staff member Carollyn Allison, also of Ally's Kitchen, created a ute shaped cake inspired by the win, as well as Mitre 10 Mega cupcakes for the staff. Managing director Simon Lye said the team at Mitre 10 Mega Ashburton were thrilled to see the prize picked up by someone in their community. 'As Ashburton is not a big city, we are feeling very proud to see one of our locals win a national promotion and such a great prize,'' he said. ''Our team were really pushing to get as many of our customers as possible entered in the competition. ''We even managed to get a Hilux in store for a few days to show off the prize.'' He said it was a tight squeeze. ''A big thank you to all our local customers who entered and our Mitre 10 Mega Ashburton team who encouraged customers to enter the promotion.'
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Trump strikes trade deal with Japan to cut tariffs
The United States and Japan struck a deal to lower the hefty tariffs President Donald Trump threatened to impose on goods from its Asian ally that included a $US550 billion ($NZ915b) package of US-bound investment and loans from Tokyo. The agreement will bring immediate relief to Japan's critical autos sector with existing tariffs cut to 15% from 25%, and proposed levies on other Japanese goods that were set to come in on August 1 also cut by the same amount. Autos make up more than a quarter of all Japan's exports to the United States. "I just signed the largest TRADE DEAL in history with Japan," Trump said on his Truth Social platform. "This is a very exciting time for the United States of America, and especially for the fact that we will continue to always have a great relationship with the Country of Japan," he added. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who local media reported will soon resign after a bruising election defeat on Sunday, hailed the deal as "the lowest figure among countries that have a trade surplus with the US." The US investment package includes loans and guarantees from Japanese government-affiliated institutions of up to $550 billion to enable Japanese firms "to build resilient supply chains in key sectors like pharmaceuticals and semiconductors," Ishiba said. Japan will also increase purchases of agricultural products such as US rice, a Trump administration official said. Ishiba said the share of US rice imports may increase under its existing framework but that the agreement would "not sacrifice Japanese agriculture." The announcement ignited a rally in Japanese stocks, with the benchmark Nikkei climbing 2.6% to its highest in a year. Shares of automakers surged in particular, with Toyota up more than 11%, and Honda and Nissan both up more than 8%. The exuberance extended to shares of South Korean carmakers as well, as the Japan deal stoked optimism that South Korea could strike a comparable deal. The yen firmed slightly against the dollar, while European and US equity index futures edged upward. But US automakers signalled their unhappiness with the deal, raising concerns about a trade regime that could cut tariffs on auto imports from Japan to 15% while leaving tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico at 25%. "Any deal that charges a lower tariff for Japanese imports with virtually no US content than the tariff imposed on North American-built vehicles with high US content is a bad deal for US industry and US auto workers," said Matt Blunt, who heads the American Automotive Policy Council which represents General Motors N and Chrysler parent Stellantis. 'MISSION COMPLETE' Autos are a huge part of US-Japan trade, but almost all of it is one way to the US from Japan, a fact that has long irked Trump. In 2024, the US imported more than $US55 billion of vehicles and automotive parts while just over $US2 billion were sold into the Japanese market from the US. Two-way trade between the two countries totalled nearly $US230 billion in 2024, with Japan running a trade surplus of nearly $US70 billion. Japan is the fifth-largest US trading partner in goods, US Census Bureau data show. Trump's announcement followed a meeting with Japan's top tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, at the White House on Tuesday. "#Mission Complete," Akazawa wrote on X, later saying the deal did not include Japanese exports of steel and aluminum that are subject to a 50% tariff, nor any agreement on defence budgets. The deal was "a better outcome" for Japan than it potentially could have been, given Trump's earlier unilateral tariff threats, said Kristina Clifton, a senior economist at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia in Sydney. Kazutaka Maeda, an economist at Meiji Yasuda Research Institute, said that "with the 15% tariff rate, I expect the Japanese economy to avoid recession." Japan is the largest investor in the United States. Together with pension giant GPIF and Japanese insurers, the country has about $US2 trillion invested in US markets. Besides that, Bank of Japan data shows direct Japanese investment in the United States was $US1.2 trillion at the end of 2024, and Japanese direct investment flows amounted to $US137 billion in North America last year. Speaking later at the White House, Trump also expressed fresh optimism that Japan would form a joint venture with Washington to support a gas pipeline in Alaska long sought by his administration. "We concluded the one deal ... and now we're going to conclude another one because they're forming a joint venture with us at, in Alaska, as you know, for the LNG," Trump told lawmakers at the White House. "They're all set to make that deal now." Trump aides are feverishly working to close trade deals ahead of an August 1 deadline that Trump has repeatedly pushed back under pressure from markets and intense lobbying by industry. By that date, countries are set to face steep new tariffs beyond those Trump has already imposed since taking office in January. Trump has announced framework agreements with Britain, Vietnam, Indonesia and paused a tit-for-tat tariff battle with China, though details are still to be worked out with all of those countries. At the White House, Trump said negotiators from the European Union would be in Washington on Wednesday.
1News
14-07-2025
- 1News
NASCAR: Kiwi Shane Van Gisbergen wins again
Shane van Gisbergen extended his winning streak to two straight and three victories in the last five weeks with yet another dominating run on a road course. The New Zealander once again showed he's in a completely different class on road and street courses than his rivals as he led 97 of 110 laps to win from pole at Sonoma Raceway. All three of his wins this year have been from pole — which tied him with Jeff Gordon for a NASCAR record of three consecutive road course victories from the top starting spot. Gordon did it between the 1998 and 1999 seasons. Victory number four for van Gisbergen — who stunned NASCAR in 2023 when he popped into the debut Chicago street course race from Australian V8 Supercars and won — seemed a given before teams even arrived at the picturesque course in California wine country. His rivals have lamented that "SVG" has a unique braking technique he mastered Down Under that none of them — all oval specialists — can ever learn. The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including a fire at an Auckland chapel, new plan for international students, and a first time Wimbledon winner. (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT That win in Chicago two years ago led van Gisbergen to move to the United States for a career change driving stock cars for Trackhouse Racing. He and Ross Chastain have pumped energy into the team over this summer stretch with Chastain kicking it off with a Memorial Day weekend victory at the Coca-Cola 600. Van Gisbergen is the fastest driver to win four Cup Series races — in his 34th start — since Parnelli Jones in 1969. "It means everything. That's why I race cars. I had an amazing time in Australia, and then to come here and the last couple weeks, or years, actually, has been a dream come true," said van Gisbergen. "I've really enjoyed my time in NASCAR. Thanks, everyone, for making me feel so welcome. I hope I'm here for a long time to come." The Sonoma win made it four victories for Trackhouse in eight weeks. Van Gisbergen was second from pole in Saturday's Xfinity Series race. Although he dominated again Sunday, van Gisbergen pitted from the lead with 27 laps remaining and then had to drive his way back to the front. He got it with a pass of Michael McDowell with 19 laps remaining, but two late cautions made van Gisbergen win restarts to close out the victory in his Chevrolet. Chase Briscoe was second in a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. "I've never played against Michael Jordan, but I imagine this was very similar," Briscoe said after not being able to pass van Gisbergen on the two late restarts — the last with five laps remaining. ADVERTISEMENT Briscoe was followed by Chase Elliott in a Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. McDowell in a Chevy for Spire Motorsports was fourth and Christopher Bell in a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing was fifth. Shane van Gisbergen (88) competes during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., Sunday, July 13, 2025. (Source: Associated Press) In-Season challenge The mid-season tournament that pays US$1 million (NZ$1.6 million) to the winner is down to four drivers. Alex Bowman finished 25th and eliminated Ty Dillon, who finished 26th. Tyler Reddick (11th) knocked out Ryan Preece (16th), John Hunter Nemechek knocked out teammate Erik Jones as they finished 21st and 22nd, and Zane Smith, with a seventh-place finish, eliminated Ty Gibbs. Bowman, at eighth, is the highest-seeded driver still in the challenge, which debuted this year. Crew fight ADVERTISEMENT NASCAR officials had to separate the crews for Brad Keselowski and Ty Gibbs when members from the two teams scrapped on pit road during the race. Keselowski's crew confronted Gibbs' crew after Gibbs drove through their pit stall and narrowly missed hitting some of Keselowski's crew members already in place waiting for him. The confrontation appeared to be contained to pushing and shoving and NASCAR quickly stepped between them. Both crews were given an official warning for fighting but NASCAR said Gibbs did nothing wrong. Clean race — for awhile It took 61 of the 110 laps for the first caution for an on-track incident — when Ryan Blaney was knocked off the course and into the dirt early in the third stage. The contact from Chris Buescher left Blaney stranded, and right before NASCAR could throw the yellow, Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin both spun. It was technically the third caution of the race, but the first two were for natural stage breaks. The race ended with six cautions — two in the final stretch. Up next The Cup Series races Sunday at Dover Motor Speedway in Delaware, where Denny Hamlin won last year.
