Hap Sharp

In 1962, Sharp and Hall formed Chaparral Cars, Inc. in Midland, Texas. Their first project together produced the car aboard which Hall and Sharp won the Road America 500 that year. They immediately designed and constructed the Chaparral 2 — a mid-engined car built around an aerospace-inspired semi-monocoque fibreglass chassis, an approach radical for its era in American racing.

Sharp competed in six Formula One World Championship Grands Prix between 1961 and 1964, never scoring championship points but appearing across multiple seasons in competitive machinery.

In 1961 and 1962 he entered as "'Hap' Sharp" in a Cooper T53 powered by a Coventry Climax straight-four engine. His best result in this period was 10th at the 1961 United States Grand Prix and 11th at the 1962 United States Grand Prix.

In 1963 Sharp drove for Reg Parnell Racing in a Lotus 24 powered by a BRM V8. He retired from the 1963 United States Grand Prix and finished 7th at the 1963 Mexican Grand Prix.

In 1964 he raced for Rob Walker Racing Team in a Brabham BT11 powered by a BRM V8. He was classified not classified at the 1964 United States Grand Prix and finished 13th at the 1964 Mexican Grand Prix, which was his final Formula One start.

Sharp's driving career with Chaparral gathered momentum in 1964 in American sportscar racing. He finished second at the USRRC round at Kent, set the fastest lap at Greenwood, won at Mid-Ohio, and shared victory at the Nassau Speed Week with Roger Penske in the Chaparral 2.

Sharp's most prolific campaign as a driver came in 1965. He and Hall took fastest lap and overall victory at Sebring. Throughout the USRRC season Sharp added wins at Continental Divide in Colorado, Mid-Ohio, Bridgehampton, Riverside, Las Vegas, and Nassau. At Nassau he drove a Chaparral 2 fitted with a two-position flipper-type spoiler associated with the Chaparral 2C. The Road America 500 saw the Chaparral effort claim both first and second place overall: Sharp co-drove the winning entry with Hall and Hissom, and shared the second-placed car with Hall and Jennigs.

Sharp retired from regular driving at the close of the 1965 season. He made two subsequent appearances: in the Chaparral 2E at the 1966 Nassau Trophy race, and in 1967, when he substituted for Mike Spence — unavailable due to a Formula One commitment — to co-drive the Chaparral 2F with Phil Hill at the Targa Florio.

Sharp was diagnosed with cancer in later life. He died by suicide on 7 May 1993 in San Martín de los Andes, Argentina.