Reigning Porsche Carrera Cup Australia champion Harri Jones has added a second European program to his 2023 season, joining Phoenix Racing, now the newly formed SCHERER SPORT PHX, for the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland.

The deal sits alongside the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup seat Jones had already secured with BWT Lechner Racing, a twelve-time Supercup Teams Champion. It makes 2023 a pivotal year for the 23-year-old Queenslander, who has moved to Europe to race full-time.

Jones said it was "a very big step to be racing in Europe now". Racing in Europe has been his goal since he started in motorsport eight years ago, and he described it as "the holy grail of motorsport". His target for the German series is the rookie classification.

He acknowledged the challenge ahead. He has not yet learned the circuits and has never raced against the European field, but said he has confidence in himself and in the team.

Jones is one of ten rookies in this year's Carrera Cup Deutschland. His team-mate is Italian Matteo Ferrer-Aza.

Team Principal Ernst Moser said he was excited to start the season with two rookies. It is the first year for the newly formed SCHERER SPORT PHX, which can build on the team's previous two years of Carrera Cup experience. With neither driver having raced in the series before, Moser expects an exciting season from two talented young drivers.

Project Manager Jean-Luc Tille believes Jones can win the rookie championship. He said it was "cool to support a young driver from Australia with Harri", adding that Jones had already shown in Australia he can handle the Cup Porsche and that the team wants to fight for the rookie title.

With seats in both Carrera Cup Germany and the Supercup, Jones will contest 16 race weekends in 2023, double the eight he raced in 2022. He has trained intensively since January, including racing in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East and work on the simulator.

Jones said he feels "better prepared than ever before" and that it is time to show the Europeans what he has.

The Carrera Cup Deutschland season opens on 27 April at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, supporting the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Sources: harrijones.com.au