Harri Jones is gearing up for his Supercars debut, showcasing his skills behind the wheel of the Team 18 Camaro at Winton.
Transitioning to Supercars
[IMAGE0CONTEXT:bmw430] Harri Jones is set to make his Supercars debut alongside Anton De Pasquale at Team 18 during the upcoming Supercars enduros. Recently, he participated in an all-in test at Queensland Raceway and further honed his skills with an evaluation day at Winton, where he completed an impressive 430 kilometers despite varying weather conditions. These additional laps are crucial for Jones as he navigates the often challenging shift from Carrera Cup to Supercars.
Adapting to New Challenges
The Cup Cars, known for their superior tire grip and downforce, also feature a paddle gearshift, presenting a stark contrast to the Supercars. For Jones, the most significant hurdle has been reacquainting himself with right-foot braking and the heel-and-toe technique. “Honestly, it’s been hard work – there’s no denying that,” Jones shared with Speedcafe regarding his transition to the Camaro. “But being around Team 18 and having Anton in my corner to show me the ropes and teach me what I need to know, I think it’s been as smooth as it could be.”
Building Confidence
“Today’s been really good. I’m feeling confident and fast in the car, especially having that wet weather experience to learn how the car reacts in various conditions,” he added. Jones is beginning to find his pace, noting, “The hardest thing was coming from left-foot braking in a Cup Car to right-foot braking and heel-and-toe again in a Supercar, just getting that natural instinct back.”
Reflecting on his early career in Formula Ford, he mentioned, “I used to do it early on, but after not doing it for a few years, it takes a couple of days to readjust. But today was really good. I’m no longer having to think about braking the car; it’s literally just thinking about driving it.”
Looking Ahead
With the 500-kilometer race at The Bend and the Bathurst 1000 on the horizon, Jones feels prepared. “Having that QR test day a couple of weeks ago, and then a big day today, it’s building that muscle memory in the car,” he stated. “Everything we learned today is going to stay fresh. Now it’s racing mode, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Jones also has prior experience with a Team 18 Camaro at The Bend, having completed an evaluation day at the venue last December. Meanwhile, Erebus Motorsport took advantage of the evaluation day at Winton, allowing its rookie co-drivers, Jarrod Hughes and Jobe Stewart, to gain valuable experience. [IMAGE1CONTEXT:bmwunknown] Jones got plenty of wet miles at Winton.