Jake Hughes
Jake Hughes contested a handful of single-seater races at the end of 2012 but this year was his first full campaign. He was one of a number of young British karting graduates to sign up for the new low-cost BRDC Formula 4 Championship, but stood out early on thanks to his testing form on the eve of the season.
He converted that pace into pole position for the first round at Silverstone but had to make do with second place in the race. His first win didn?t come until round three at Snetterton, and that was courtesy of an exclusion for the initial victor. He then began to hit his stride, and a pair of seconds at Oulton Park brought him up to second in the standings before moving into the lead with a win at Brands Hatch. Another win at Silverstone and two podiums back at Snetterton strengthened his lead, allowing him to wrap up the title with a fourth victory of the campaign at Donington Park.
In a competitive field that had six talented drivers in contention until the end, the way that Hughes pulled away at the end of the season was impressive. He also had the most wins and the most pole positions. The doubt in a new series full of rookies is what the level of competition is like, but all five of Hughes? nearest rivals were champions in karting or Ginetta Juniors.
Having tested for a number of Formula Renault teams, Hughes looks set to race in the NEC next season and hope to repeat the success of promising compatriots like Jake Dennis and Matt Parry.
Peter Allen