Jones scores big Supercup drive

Carrera Cup Australia champion Harri Jones has scored the opportunity of a lifetime, signing with one of the top Porsche teams in the world.

Jones, 23, will move from Queensland to Austria this year as he steps up to the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup to race for reigning drivers and constructors champions BWT Lechner Racing.

It is a huge drive for the Aussie to land, joining the team which has won 12 teams titles at the pinnacle of one-make Porsche racing. The team dominated the 2022 season, winning five of the eight races and scored 124 more points than the next best outfit.

Harri Jones held on to take the Carrera Cup Australia title from a late charging Aaron Love.

Jones will be easy to spot, driving one of the distinctively pink BWT Lechner Racing cars, but more importantly will race at famous tracks such as Imola, Monaco, Silverstone, Spa and Monza, with all eight rounds support acts for Formula 1.

The 23-year-old cannot wait to take on the world.

“To say I’m excited is an understatement,” Jones said.

“This is the opportunity of a lifetime for me. And to not only have the chance to move to Europe and race in the Porsche Supercup, but to do so with the most successful team in the series’ history, is quite simply a dream come true.

“This year we will be racing at some of the most spectacular venues in the world, including Monaco, Spa and Monza to name a few. I’m already buzzing at the thought, but I know I will need to work harder than ever to ensure we have success on track.”

Aussie Harri Jones with BWT Lechner Racing team principal Robert Lechner.

Jones did not follow the conventional karting pathway, with his first passion two wheels in the form of downhill mountain biking, where he competed at national and international level events.

At 15 he then made the switch to four wheels and motorsport, beginning in the Queensland Formula Ford Championship before progressing to the national level over the next two years.

By 2019 Jones was an Australian Formula 3 and Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge champion, while last year he added the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia title to his resume in tense style at the Gold Coast.

The Aussie has already gained some experience with BWT Lechner Racing, having completed the season opener of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East Championship in November last year, where he recorded P7 and P2 finishes at Bahrain.

Harri Jones will drive for leading Mobil 1 Supercup team BWT Lechner Racing.

BWT Lechner Racing team principal Robert Lechner has been impressed with what he has seen from Jones and believes he has what it takes to compete on the European stage.

“I first met Harri at the final round of the 2022 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Championship at Monza,” Lechner said.

“He is a very impressive driver and athlete and after already winning some silverware for the team in Bahrain last year, and of course the 2022 Australian Carrera Cup Championship, we are all very excited to see him race with us for a full season of Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup this year.”

Jones has already commenced an intensive build up to the season, which includes competing in two more Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East rounds at Yas Marina and Dubai Autodrome over the next fortnight.

The Aussie will make his Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup debut at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, during the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix from May 19-21.

For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.

AUTO ACTION, Australia’s independent voice of motorsport