Porsche champion Jones chasing Supercars seat
Reaching Supercars "number one goal" for Harri Jones
Porsche champion set on scoring 2026 Supercars seat
Queenslander completed second Team 18 evaluation on Thursday
Scoring a full-time Supercars seat in 2026 is the "number one goal” for Porsche champion Harri Jones, who is preparing for his first starts in the category.
The Queenslander is a two-time Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship winner, taking out the title in 2022 and 2024. He is on track for a third, leading this year’s standings by 58 points.
In a field littered with former Supercars drivers and Super2 young guns, Team 18’s decision to partner a rookie with Anton De Pasquale was a surprise to many.
However, few could doubt Jones’s credentials, and the driver himself is now determined to find his way onto the Supercars grid next season.
Jones completed over 400 kilometres of running at an evaluation on Thursday at Winton Motor Raceway, ahead of the Ryco Enduro Cup. De Pasquale and David Reynolds were trackside watching on as Jones lapped the #18 Chevrolet Camaro around the Victorian circuit.
It was his second evaluation test with Team 18 following his maiden day with the team at The Bend Motorsport Park last December, with the two-time Carrera Cup winner also at both official Supercars test days at Sydney and Ipswich. While getting up to speed with Team 18, Jones has also been tapping into right-foot braking and heel-and-toe.
Speaking after the day’s running, Jones made it clear he wants Supercars to be part of his future, even as early as 2026. However, he insisted he must walk before he can run.
“Porsche has been the backbone of my career to date, and I feel like I've done pretty much all I can in Cup cars in Australia and around the world,” Jones told Supercars.com.
“It's been a dream of mine for one day racing in the Bathurst 1000, and to have the opportunity this year with Anton and Team 18, it's a dream come true.
“At the end of the day, I'm also trying to forge a career and hopefully find some main game opportunities full-time next year. But, I know that it's one foot ahead of another and I’ve just got to focus on enduros and see what happens."
On breaking onto the 2026 grid, Jones added: “That's my number one goal right now. I think there are plenty of opportunities available, but I understand that I'm not a proven asset yet."
Recently appointed as Triple Eight's successor as General Motors' homologation team, Team 18 have Reynolds coming off contract at the end of the year.
However, Team 18 does have an option in the favour to extend his contract. If the option isn't taken, the door could be ajar for Jones.
There could also be potential openings at Brad Jones Racing, Matt Stone Racing, PremiAir Racing, Erebus Motorsport and Blanchard Racing Team.
Having enjoyed Thursday’s evaluation day, despite rain falling at Winton, Jones knows has a job to do for potential Finals contender De Pasquale, and still has a third Porsche championship to win.
"Got to try a bunch of different things and all conditions and learn this wet weather tyre before The Bend,” he added.
“Really good day. Feeling confident. Feeling happy, and had a lot of fun. I think I did 400 kilometres of driving today. “Anton is an open book when it comes to helping me find my feet in a Supercar. With someone of his talent and his experience, I'm just trying to be a sponge and soak up all I can.
"I think at the end of the day, we're all doing the same race and it doesn't really matter. External pressure, of course you have to consider it and drive maturely and drive safely.
“The best way to him for him to get into The Finals is for us to win races. Obviously he's got a championship to look forward to and I can help make it happen.”
