Harrison to make historic jump from simulation racing to Porsche in Austria

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Jayden Harrison demonstrates the workings of a simulator at the S Kingston Hotel on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Watching his prowess on the machine was international race car driver Senna Summerbell

Jamaican sim racer Jayden Harrison is set to make a historic transition from virtual motorsport to real-world racing when he represents Jamaica at the 992 Porsche Time Trials at the Red Bull Ring in Austria next month.

Harrison, who has been competing in motorsport simulation for more than five years, will drive a Porsche GT3 Cup car for two days around the world-famous circuit.

The opportunity comes after Harrison has had only one previous experience driving an actual race car.

He believes the test will be a significant milestone not only for his career, but for motorsport simulation in Jamaica.

“Now I am getting the opportunity to take those skills from the simulator to a real-world test in a Porsche GT3 Cup car. It is a huge step for me and for motorsports in Jamaica,” Harrison said.

Sim driver Jayden Harrison at the Motor Sports press conference on August 25, 2026, at S Kingston Hotel.

Harrison has also worked on the technical side of simulation racing, helping other drivers with car set-up, data analysis and building confidence on the virtual track.

“It is a great preparation tool for real-world racing,” he noted.

Harrison represented Jamaica at the North American Esports Championship in the Dominican Republic last year, finishing second among the leading simulation drivers from the region.

“That was probably the height of my career, and this opportunity of driving a real car that we have been driving many times on the simulator will be the peak of my career now,” he said.

Harrison said the Austrian test could also help raise the profile of simulation racing in Jamaica and encourage other drivers to take the discipline more seriously.

“A lot of drivers don’t take simulation racing as seriously as it should be, so this test might change that, or make a bigger step toward that,” he said. “It will also be a good boost to the local simulation drivers here, seeing another one of them get the chance to drive internationally.”

From L- Stephen Gunther, S Hotel Sim Centre, Thomas Issa, chief operations officer, S Hotels Jamaica and race car driver Senna Summerbell of the Hot Box at a press conference announcing Jayden Harrison’s transition from sim to the Red Bull Ring in Austria

Harrison’s participation in Austria is being supported by S Hotel Kingston, which is sponsoring the trip. The Jamaican hospitality company will also have its logo displayed on Harrison’s car and uniform.

The hotel is also backing another Jamaican racing driver, Alex Powell, who has been confirmed to compete with PREMA Racing in the FIA Formula 3 Championship. Powell’s move represents another major development for Jamaican motorsport.

Local motorsport guru Stephen Gunther said Powell’s promotion to Formula 3 is the result of years of development, describing it as “a monumental step” in his career.

PREMA selected Powell as one of five drivers for its inaugural karting programme in partnership with Cart Republic. He went on to win the Champions of the Future Euro Series title, finish third in the FIA Karting Championship and help PREMA secure the team championship.

Gunther said Powell also became the first driver from PREMA’s own karting programme to graduate into its single-seater structure.

Both Harrison and Powell will carry the S Hotel logo on their cars and uniforms as they compete internationally, giving the Jamaican brand a presence across two levels of motorsport.

For Harrison, however, the immediate focus is Austria, where he will attempt to turn years of virtual preparation into his first significant international experience behind the wheel of a real race car.