After showing promising pace across the first two meetings of the season, Tom Sharp is ready to kick-start his maiden 2017 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup campaign this month as he prepares for back-to-back race weekends with his family IDL Racing team.

This weekend (08/09 July) will mark Sharp’s first ever visit to the Red Bull Ring as he prepares to race in support of the F1 Austrian Grand Prix, while next weekend (15/16 July) he will return to a familiar stomping ground as he competes at Silverstone ahead of the British Grand Prix.

Sharp kicked off his 2017 season back in May with a brilliant points finish in the season opener at Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, before starring around the streets of Monaco as he superbly ran in the top ten, before unfortunately being the innocent victim of contact.

The Camberley racer is now looking to bounce back from that disappointment by getting back in the points at the Red Bull Ring, a fast, undulating circuit that provides a unique challenge under the stunning backdrop of the Styrian mountains.

Sharp will then make the short trip up the M40 to compete in the Supercup meeting around the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit for a third consecutive season, having enjoyed successful guest outings whilst competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB in each of the last two years.

The IDL, Dome Group, Mardix Group, Lloret and Fireclad Limited backed racer impressively qualified in the top ten on his Supercup bow back in 2015, before fighting to a brilliant seventh place race finish last July in front of a mammoth home crowd of over 100,000 people.

While a repeat performance is firmly in his sights next weekend, first up Sharp is pushing for success in Spielberg. You can watch his race in the UK on Sunday on Sky Sports F1 at 10:25 and then on Eurosport 2 at 15:30, while timing and results can be found throughout at http://www.racecam.de.

Tom Sharp: “The Red Bull Ring is a circuit that I have always wanted to race at. It's going to be a challenge for us when you consider it is a local circuit for many of the teams we’re competing against, but I'm sure we can put on a strong showing.

“Your home event is always somewhere you want to impress at. Last year's performance was arguably my best of the season, so I need to make sure we improve on that and push for the top ten once again.

“Testing has been positive and every time I go out in the car, I feel more and more comfortable with it. I’m confident we’ll be in a good place for both the Red Bull Ring and Silverstone, and I’m looking forward to the races.”
 
Austria Timetable (local times): Friday 7th July: Free Practice – 16:45; Saturday 8th July: Qualifying – 12:25; Sunday 9th July: Race – 11:45