Jones commits to full-time return to Aussie shores
Aussie racer Harri Jones has announced he’ll be returning to the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia circuit to expand his new Jones Motorsport team as both driver and team manager.
The 2022 national Porsche champion has just finished a successful campaign in Europe in the Mobil 1 Supercup and the German Carrera Cup, as well as recently taking part at the Bathurst 1000 Carrera Cup round with his new Jones Motorsport squad making its debut.
Jones has explained that whilst there were attractive offers on the table to remain in Europe, his ambitions to grow his new team on home soil were too strong to ignore.
“I have a massive passion for motorsport and that goes beyond just driving the car,” said Jones.
“I see some exciting opportunities to innovate and develop a team that can help drivers in all aspects of their career.
“Personally, I feel I can bring something quite unique to the team. I of course have a background as a driver, having won multiple championships on the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid, but I also have years of experience as a driver coach and engineer, and have learned a lot from my time over in Europe this year.”
Jones’ debut season in Europe with BWT Lechner Racing saw him finish second in the Rookie title
The affable Queensland born racer spent his time in Europe with Porsche’s premier one make team, BWT Lechner Racing, as well as a season with Scherer Sport PHX in Germany, where he finished second in both Rookie championships, falling only one point short of the title at Monza in the F1 exclusive Supercup.
“I have had a great year, it’s honestly been better than I could’ve ever imagined,” he continued.
“Racing at Monaco and Spa was for sure a highlight, but it was in the final round of Supercup at Monza where I felt like things just clicked. I finished P4 outright and P1 Rookie and came just one point short from taking out the Rookie Championship.
“The intensity of a European racing program is just something else. No where else in the world are you in the car every week. Needless to say, I feel pretty battle-hardened.”
The Jones Motorsport crew will take on their second event at the Gold Coast 500 this weekend
On returning to race on the Carrera Cup Australia grid, and possibly expand his team into the Porsche Sprint Challenge, Jones’ love for the national Australian program was a big lure.
“Carrera Cup Australia is my favourite category in the world. I have raced across the globe, but to be in Australia, in Porsches, on some of the best tracks in the world is absolutely a dream come true.
“I’d heard about all of the hard work the team had been putting in whilst I was overseas, but when we arrived at Bathurst and I witnessed it all paying off for our debut on track, it was just amazing.
“Theres a lot more to come and I know we are just getting started on what will be an incredible journey.”
Harry King and Harri Jones fight for victory through Griffins Bend on the Saturday of the Bathurst 1000 round. Image: Mark Horsburgh
After taking out a sweep of podiums behind his visiting Lechner teammate Harry King, Jones will now take on the Gold Coast 500 Carrera Cup grid on October 27-29 at the very track where he sealed his 2022 title in a thrilling fight against Aaron Love.
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