Sanjay ‘Hardy’ Sharma
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Sanjay ‘Hardy’ Sharma
Sanjay ‘Hardy’ Sharma, head of corporate communication and motorsport at JK Tyre, has passed away at the age of 61. His death marks a significant loss for the Indian motorsport community.
Sharma played a central role in establishing and expanding JK Tyre’s motorsport programme over more than three decades. Under his leadership, the company became a major force in circuit racing, rallying and karting, creating structured platforms for young drivers to progress into competitive motorsport.
In 1997, JK Tyre launched the National Racing Championship, an initiative led by Sharma that went on to nurture several leading Indian racers. Drivers such as Narain Karthikeyan, Karun Chandhok, Aditya Patel and Armaan Ebrahim competed in the championship before advancing to international racing. Sharma also supported talent across other disciplines, including three-time Asia-Pacific Rally Champion and Arjuna awardee Gaurav Gill.
Tributes from across the motorsport fraternity followed news of his passing. Narain Karthikeyan described the day as “one of the blackest days in the history of Indian motorsport,” recalling Sharma’s role in shaping the careers of numerous Indian drivers. He said Sharma had backed him from the start of his career and contributed significantly to Indian motorsport’s growth.
Karun Chandhok said, “Outside of my family, nobody did more for my career or taught me more.”
Sharma’s tenure at JK Tyre Motorsport helped lay the foundation for modern Indian circuit racing. While his passing signals the end of a long chapter in the sport’s administration, his influence remains visible in the championships he built and the drivers he mentored.
Published On Feb 12, 2026 at 02:01 PM IST