Chris Harris comes from a mixed ethnicity, though he was adopted and raised by white parents. His heritage and background are very interesting!
Key Takeaways
- Chris Harris is a British automotive journalist, professional racing driver, and television presenter.
- His full name is Christopher James Harris.
- He was adopted when he was little.
Chris Harris Has A Mixed Ethnicity
Harris is of Greek descent. Hence, he is not a Caucasian.
However, he did not grow up with his parents and is not as close to his heritage as he is to white culture.
Chris has been very open about his ethnic background and heritage when speaking about the same in public.
He posted an Instagram picture of his father that clearly stated that a white father had adopted him.
The post had a caption,
“My father in the late 1940s. A tall white man who adopted a small brown kid. That took guts in the mid 1970s. Been gone for a long time now. I think about him, and thank him every day.”
Via Instagram
Harris’ words were heartwarming, to say the least.
His adoptive father was an accountant, and his mother was an autocross racer. His mother’s profession influenced him as he grew up to become a professional racing driver.
Moreover, in a tweet, he wrote,
“Slippery slope when people are told that unless they perform a specific gesture they are not acknowledging a problem or respectful of a situation. Have to respect the rights of the individual.”
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He added,
“I’m not white. Best of luck.”
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That said, he advocated rights for all while going against racism. And there have always been mixed responses about him admitting to being from a different ethnic background or speaking for people of color.
Chris Harris Career
Harris is a very versatile man when it comes to his professional journey.
He has done everything from journalism to being a professional racer and a TV presenter. He also became accomplished in all these fields.
Chris started his journalism career working for Autocar. He admitted to doing menial jobs at the beginning of his career.
Eventually, he was promoted to an official road-test editor position in the company. In 2008, he co-founded a web-based digital platform called Drivers Republic.
Harris also joined Evo as a writer and a publisher. Partnering up with /DRIVE, he started giving his opinions and reviews on YouTube as well.
He also started his YouTube Career with “Chris Harris on Cars” in 2014.
Chris joined Top Gear as a TV presenter in 2016. His series “Chris Harris On Cars” was absorbed by BBC the same year.
Additionally, the talented 49-year-old won his first race in 2000 in a Formula Palmer Audi.
Porsche 911 Cup, Renault Sport R.S. 01, Aston Martin Vantage GT12, Van Diemen FF1600, Rover SD1, and a Jaguar E-Type are some of the popular racing cars he has driven to this date.
As of now, he makes videos on racing and centers the subject of the videos on cars and races.
Chris Harris Controversy
Harris has been a big part of controversies several times.
In his 2011 article “How Ferrari Spins,” he once called out Ferrari for “trying to win every test (review) at any cost” and calling it “profoundly irritating. “
He was banned from reviewing Ferrari since.
In late 2013, the brand and the racer reconciled. During his time being banned from reviewing the brand, he was able to do so by borrowing the cars from his friends, including Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason.
He got into a heated controversy yet again with Lamborghini after his article “Lamborghinis Are The Perfect Cars For People Who Can’t Drive” was published.
After labeling the brand as inadequate in several aspects, Harris ended his relationship with the brand in 2014.
In 2017, he started reviewing cars from the brand again.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Chris Harris posts sponsored content and has partnered up with brands, including Pirelli.
- NBCSN compensates him for his series “Drive.”
- He completed his education at Clifton College, Bristol.
