The Indian motorsport community has lost a key pillar with the death of JK Tyre’s head of corporate communication and motorsport, Sanjay Sharma, at the age of 61.
- Sharma helped establish the JK Tyre motorsport programme
- Illustrious Indian motorsport icons like Chandhok and Karthikeyan emerged under his watch
Fondly known as ‘Hardy’, Sharma was instrumental in building JK Tyre’s motorsport programme into one of the most influential platforms for racing in India. Over three decades, he played a key role in shaping circuit racing, rallying and karting initiatives that gave young talent a structured pathway to enter competitive motorsport.
In fact, it was under his leadership that JK Tyre launched the National Racing Championship in 1997. Some of the country’s most prominent racers like Narain Karthikeyan, Karun Chandhok, Aditya Patel and Armaan Ebrahim raced in the championship before representing India on the world stage. Beyond circuit racing, Sharma also championed racers across multiple motorsport fields, including three-time Asia-Pacific Rally Champion and Arjuna awardee Gaurav Gill.
As the news of his passing emerged, tributes poured in from across the Indian motorsport community. “Today is one of the blackest days in the history of Indian motorsport. The man who shaped championships and careers of so many Indian drivers is no more,” Karthikeyan said in a social media post.
“Truly shocking. Saddened to hear the news of the sad demise of Sanjay ‘Hardy’ Sharma. He was the heart and soul of the JK Tyre Motorsport programme, a true motorsport fan who loved the sport and everything it stood for. He was kind, generous, business-savvy and a true gent.”
“He believed in me right from the start of my career and supported me wholeheartedly during my entire career. I could never ever thank him enough for what he did for Indian motorsport and for me personally. The entire fraternity will miss him immensely. RIP Hardy.”
Chandhok shared, “Outside of my family, nobody did more for my career or taught me more.”
Sharma’s passing marks the end of an era for JK Tyre Motorsport. His legacy, however, lives on in the championships he’s helped build and in the countless racers whose careers he has supported.
Dinshaw Magol
