Racing car driver Harri Jones to compete in Europe’s Porsche Supercup

A Buderim-raised motosport champion who was racing at the age of 15 has revealed what it’s really like behind the wheel ahead of his European challenge.

Harri Jones with team principle BWT Lechner Racing Robert Lechner.

A Buderim-raised racing superstar is ready to race through the streets of Monaco at 290km/h as he embarks on a major career milestone.

The only Australian on the circuit, Harri Jones is competing in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup after signing with the BWT Lechner Racing team early this year.

Raised in Buderim and just 23 years old, Harri is currently the reigning Australian Carrera Cup Champion, which team principal Robert Lechner, says is proof he has what it takes to fight in Europe.

“He is a very impressive driver and athlete and we are all very excited to see him race with us for a full season of Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup this year,” Mr Lechner said.

Armed with a racing licence at 15, Harri learnt to race in “a 1990 race car that was fast enough and agile enough for me to learn the ropes” before he began his career in the 2016 Australian Formula Championship.

“I was driving 200 km/h even before I had my L plates,” Harri said.

Harri Jones driving the BWT Lechner Racing Car in Bahrain 2022.

Fast forward six years, Harri has a string of wins under his belt and is on his way to Austria later this month to compete on the world stage after reaching the pinnacle of Porsche racing in Australia, with an impressive tally of 90 podiums, 46 race wins and three Australian Championships.

“I will be living in Salzburg and racing all around Europe,” he said.

“I will have 20 race weekends this year and on top of that I will have 30 test days in the car, so a lot of plane trips and a lot of fun.”

Competing in two Championship events in Europe, Harri says he has prepared for the year ahead with races in the Middle East and is now “basically living on my simulator” to learn 15 new European tracks.

Porsche Supercup 2023 Season Calendar.

Part of a team of three racing on a combination of permanent and street tracks, Harri says motorsport is “as much physical as it is mental”.

“When you’re actually racing wheel to wheel with 30 other cars it’s almost like playing chess at 200km/h,” he said.

“We are hitting the brake pedal with almost 100kg of force and we have a lot of G-forces we have to contend with and the heat inside the car is about 50 – 55 C.

“We do touch cars quite often, almost skimming the walls with our mirrors, so we are pushing the limits all the time.”

Jones says racing gives him an “out of body experience, or what we call a flow state where every sense in your body is basically driving a car as fast as you can”.

“It’s an awesome feeling and obviously takes a fair bit of time to get the confidence and the ability and the skills to do such a thing,” Jones said.

“But I am addicted to it and there is no better feeling on earth.”