Scott Sharp is a racer known to both closed-wheel and open-wheel fans,
from his stellar career in Trans-Am to his notching the Indy Racing
League's inaugural co-championship in 1996, Sharp has been a fan
favorite. For the 2008 season, he leaves the IndyCar Series and
partners with sportscar specialist David Brabham in the American Le Mans
Series.
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Scott Sharp. Photo by Chris Jones - IRL.
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Duncan Dayton, owner of Highcroft Racing, was pleased to announce today
that Scott Sharp and sponsor Patron Spirits have climbed onboard to
fight for the LM P2 chamiponship in the Highcroft Acura entry. The
battle will not be an easy one going against the Porsche RS Spyders.
"The team is delighted to welcome Scott Sharp to the Patron Highcroft
Racing family. Scott comes from a long line of sports-car racers and
holds strong family ties to the Connecticut area," said Dayton.
Dayton's team is based in Connecticut and Sharp was born and raised in
the Northeast state, not far from the Lime Rock Park road course. The
team owner and his new driver will be right at home when ALMS races
there this summer.
The recipient of the 2007 Founders' Cup, Dayton himself is a racer and
still competes when time allows in vintage competition. Last year, he
climbed out of the cockpit and turned his new Acura prototype over to David
Brabham and Stefan Johansson. This year with Patron signing on with
Sharp, the team will have a new name: Patron Highcroft Racing.
"I am truly excited to announce the partnership between Patron Spirits
and Highcroft Racing's Acura program in the ALMS," said Dayton. "Our
ability to attract Patron Spirits is a testament to the hard work that
Highcroft has put in over the past 18 months and our results on the
track.
"This partnership represents a significant milestone for this young team
and for the ALMS," he added.
Acura and Honda Performance Development made their debut last season
with three teams: Andretti Green Racing, Fernandez Racing and Highcroft
Racing. Dayton's team was the only one of the three that has been a
mainstay in road racing, including the ALMS. The other two teams have
been part of the Honda family running first in CART (now Champ Car) and
in the IndyCar competition.
Sharp's racing career began in karting before he competed in the Sports
Car Club of America (SCCA), earning three consecutive National championships.
Many of his followers still recall his Trans-Am racing days running the
Newman-Sharp entry for his dad Bob Sharp and Paul Newman. His first
victory came in 1990 at Detroit - yet another venue on the ALMS calendar
- and his first Trans-Am crown came in 1991 with AER. Sharp was the
youngest driver to notch the Trans-Am title.
"In fact, some of our team members worked for the original Newman-Sharp
teams over 20 years ago," commented Dayton. "Scott's distinguished
career in the Indy Racing League certainly bodes well for a successful
partnership with Patron Highcroft Racing, Acura and David Brabham."
Sharp repeated his Trans-Am championship in 1993, again taking six race
wins. In the same year, he made his CART debut. Yet his open-wheel
career included one full-season in CART and Indianapolis 500 events
until the IRL's first season which opened the door for Sharp to take on
a new adventure in open-wheel racing, running only on ovals. The road
course ace was up for the challenge earning nine victories along the
way.
His new ride puts him in a position of racing against his former team
owner. Sharp drove for Fernandez Racing (2005-'06) before moving to Rahal
Letterman Racing last year.
"I believe Scott will be a great addition to the team," Brabham said. "I
had a fantastic time working with Highcroft and Acura last year and I
am honored to continue as one of their drivers. Highcroft came in ahead
of the other Acura teams last year, and as drivers, Scott and I will be
pushing not only to be the lead Acura team, but also to be at the front
of the P2 class in 2008."
Johansson will be back with the team for the two long endurance events, the Twelve Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans. "We are thrilled to have
Stefan joining Patron Highcroft Racing for the 12 Hours of Sebring and
Petit Le Mans. His long, successful career and his results for Highcroft
last year speak for themselves. "We're looking forward to having his
experience in the Acura program contribute to our efforts in 2008," commented Dayton.
The ALMS teams will prepare for the start of the 2008 season at the
annual Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway on January 28-30.
