Adam Sharpe
 |
Adam joined the
ranks of international sports car racing
in only his fifth season of racing.
In 2004, at 19 years of age, he was lead driver for
the Morgan Works Racing Team at les 24hrs
du Mans 2004, where the team recorded a
finish. He followed this in
September 2004 by becoming team champion
in British GT Cup class in the Tech 9
Porsche. At 20, Adam had raced in UK,
France, Belgium, Italy, North Carolina,
Florida and Australia. At les 24 Heures du Mans 2005, in the Paul Belmondo Racing Courage AER LMP2, he achieved a Podium 2nd finish to become the youngest Briton ever to take the Le Mans podium, demonstrating
skill, determination and resolve. A fully
Silverstone-qualified ARDS racing driving
instructor, Adam is
a thoroughly rounded professional who is
well liked as a clean and cool-headed
racing driver who races hard whilst
showing respect for his fellow grid
members. Whether at work on track or
collaborating with his sponsors, team
or the media, Adam is
reliable and committed - a class act with
a passion for winning. |
2006
ASM follows up the 2005 season by entering their own Ford Falcon in the Australian V8 Supercars Fujitsu Championship Series for a rookie season. The newly formed team, running a 5 year old AU model Falcon, were frequently running in the top 15 of a 35-40 car field and recorded a top ten finish during the season. Adam's performance earned sufficient recognition for him to be offered a seat in the 2006 Championship winning team's squad, Howard Racing, where he will continue to run his own car under the ASM-Howard Racing colours. The BA Falcon that he will race in 2007 will combine Triple-8 race engineering, Dick Johnson engines and the championship level expertise of Howard Racing's crew under the management of Warren Davis.
Adam has also competed and claimed wins in the Britcar Series, well backed and engineered by Graham Nash as engineering consultant to the ASM team and recorded another podium in the Britcar 24 hours of Silverstone. Adam was lead driver for the Le Mans 2006 Noel Del Bello squad with the Porsche GT3 RSR. This provided Adam's third Le Mans 24 Hrs where he has now driven in a Morgan, a Courage LMP2 (2nd place 2005) and a Porsche.
2005
Adam forms his own Team – ASM – with which he runs a V8 Ford Falcon Supercar in the UK Britcar Series. This brings success in the first outing at Brands Indy with a 2nd place podium finish, followed in June by a double header of victories across one weekend, again at Brands, but on the GP circuit this time.
Also this year, Adam has competed at the Mobil 12 Hours Sebring and the LMES 6 Hours at Monza with Binnie Motorsports. However, engine failures led to two early retirements. Adam later signed with Paul Belmondo Racing (PBR) for Les 24 Heures du Mans this year and recorded a second place podium finish in the #36 Courage, making him the youngest Briton ever to have taken a prototype podium at the prestigious 24 hour race. Adam again signed with PBR for LMES Silverstone 1000km following a release from the Binnie Motorsports contract.
Adam ran both of the ASM V8 Falcons at Silverstone early in September 2005 in the BritCar 24 Hours and achieved a class podium with both the Falcons, finishing 3rd and 4th. Adam competed in the #6 Falcon at the Britcar 24 hours and took 3rd position.
Late 2005 saw the ASM Falcons back out in the EERC BritCar field at Snetterton, where Adam qualified on pole, recorded the fastest race lap and won the class.
2004
March 2004 and Adam, now lead driver for the Morgan Works Race Team, was joined by Neil Cunningham and Keith Ahlers to challenge for the Sebring 12hr race. They finished 10th in class and 20th overall, with Adam's times again within half a second of Neil's. This performance was to prove decisive in gaining the supreme prize - an entry for les 24hrs du Mans in June 2004. Adam's next appearance for Morgan was at les 24hrs du Mans on 11/12 June, where the team recorded a finish. He followed this in September 2004 by becoming team champion in British GT's Cup class series in the Tech 9 Porsche. Adam's brother, Toby, took over his management in November 2004.
2003
After testing Formula Renault in Spain over the
2002 winter with Pastons, he decided to look at
single seaters for the 2003 season.
After a good deal of research in respect of driving,
racing and costs, Adam signed with Formula Palmer
Audi for the 2003 season. This would take him
to the most recognized circuits in the UK and
overseas to Europe at Monza in Italy and Spa in
Belgium.
While making the decision to drive with Formula
palmer Audi, Adam was also asked to drive in British
GTs in the Clio V6 run by Atlanta Motorsport.
As Adam’s aim has always been to race GTs,
he took this opportunity. Adam raced for Atlanta
for the first half of the season, then was asked
to race the Works GTC Morgan with Richard Thorne
Motorsport.
In Adam’s debut with Morgan, he and his experienced team mate Neil Cunningham took 2nd. From there, Adam stayed with Richard Thorne and raced at the 1000km Spa endurance, taking a 3rd. In the British GT final race, Adam took his first win with the Morgan.
In November 2003, Adam joined the Works team as works driver in the GT Morgan at the Le Mans 1000km race, partnering Neil. The pair finished 8th in class and 16th overall and gave the Works team their first step on the ladder to a Le Mans 24hr entry. That same month, Adam and Neil also entered the Cup Morgan in the Bathurst 24hr and received an overwhelming welcome from the media and race fans in Australia, achieving national TV and Press coverage. Although the Morgan's BMW engine blew after just under 7 hours, Adam's stint was impressive, with lap times equaling those of Neil.
2002
Adam signed with Stancombe Vehicle Engineering after having a great season with them in Powertour.
The Clio Cup season was very successful for Adam with regular top 10 finishes and close door to door racing!
Also during the summer of 2002, Adam took several trips across the pond to America to look at the NASCAR racing. After the first visit, a well respected team and carefully planned races, to allow Adam not to miss any Clio Cup races, were arranged. Adam raced three times in America, each time getting into the top 10. In his first outing, he managed to qualify 7th to the Americans’ surprise! From here, Adam decided that he should experience single seaters as part of his progression.
2001
By 2001, he had already established his talent with wins at Silverstone and Brands Hatch and local TV station, HTV, had shown serious interest with their sponsorship.
During 2001, Adam switched from the junior T-Car series to join Powertour, racing Ford Fiestas. He made the change from rear wheel to front wheel drive in the company of seasoned Fiesta campaigners - and turned in finishes in the top six that got him Championship points. In the Fiesta winter series, he came second and was well positioned to make his debut in 2002 with TOCA driving in the Renault Clio Cup.
2000
Adam began his racing career at the age of 15 in the year 2000 with a full season in T-Cars.
Fact File
| Full Name | Adam James Sharpe |
| Date of birth | 12th September 1984 (22) |
| Place of birth | London |
| Family home | Taunton |
| Lives | Central London / Surfers Paradise |
| Height | 6ft2ins/1.85m |
| Weight | 76 kgs / 167 lbs |
| Profession | Racing driver - FIA International B Licence; ARDS Instructor's Licence Helicopter Pilot PPL(h) - Commercial Licence pending |
| Training | Fitness training - stamina and upper body strength - cycling, water ski-ing, running |
| Academic | BSc in Technology Management 2:1 from Oxford Brookes University |
| Hobbies | Helicopter, Mountain Biking, Skiing, Quads, Clay Pigeon Shooting |
| Languages | Basic French |
Career to date
2006 |
Multiple Britcar wins ASM Ford Falcon |
2005 |
Maiden LMP drive at Sebring 12 hours LMP2 Binnie Motorsports |
2004 |
Morgan Works Racing, Morgan Aero 8 GT |
2003 |
Morgan Works Racing, Morgan Aero 8 GT |
2002 |
Renault Clio Cup - top six finishes |
2001 |
BRSCC T-Cars |
2000 |
BRSCC T-Cars |
