Hap Sharp  United States

  • Full name James R. Sharp
  • Nickname Hap
  • Birth date January 1, 1928
  • Birthplace Tulsa, United States
  • Date of death May 11, 1992 (64 years 131 days)
  • Place of death San Martín de los Andes, Neuquén, Argentina
  • Teams Brabham, Cooper, Team Lotus

Profile

World Championship Career
Year Car Race Start Won Pod Class Best Pole Front Best Lap Hat Pts Pos
1961 Cooper 1 1 0 0 1 10 0 0 17 0 0 0 -
1962 Cooper 1 1 0 0 1 11 0 0 14 0 0 0 -
1963 Team Lotus 2 2 0 0 1 7 0 0 16 0 0 0 -
1964 Brabham 2 2 0 0 1 13 0 0 18 0 0 0 -
Total 6 6 0 0 4 7 0 0 14 0 0 0
Race Circuit Date
First race United States Grand Prix Watkins Glen October 8, 1961 Race results
Last race Mexican Grand Prix Mexico City October 25, 1964 Race results
Profile

Hap Sharp competed in six F1 races between 1961 and 1964, all in the USA or Mexico, but was better known as co-owner and driver of the Chaparral sports racing cars. In 1962 Jim Hall and Sharp formed Chaparral Cars Inc. and immediately began the design and construction of Chaparral 2, a mid-engined car with an aerospace inspired semi-monocoque fiberglass chassis. He drove until 1965 when he quit full-time racing.

A man of many parts, he ran a variety of businesses, including an involvement in oil in Texas, and owned large tracts of land in Venezuela and Argentina. He committed suicide after being diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1992.

His nickname of Hap came from "Happy New Year", marking the fact he was born on January 1.
Martin Williamson

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