Photo: US F4
Jay Howard Driver Development’s United States Formula 4 leader Lochie Hughes will stay with the team next year in a full-time move up to USF2000.
Hughes joined JHDD at the start of this year to contest the opening round of the YACademy Winter Series, which uses the same car as US F4, then in the national championship has won four races in the first four rounds of the 2022 US F4 season.
During summer, he also made his USF2000 debut with the team at Mid-Ohio and qualified fourth but was then disqualified from second place in his first race after his car failed scrutineering. He finished fourth in race three of the weekend.
Before moving his racing career to America, Hughes spent two years in the Australian F4 championship. He won one race en route to fifth in the standings in his rookie season in 2018, then added three more wins as the 2019 championship runner-up.
“I am focused on this weekend and of course winning the F4 championship, but I also can’t help to look forward to 2023,” said Hughes, who will be on track at Virginia International Raceway for the penultimate US F4 round this weekend.
“I think I have been able to prove myself here in North America and look forward to closing this year strong and starting next year with a bang.”
Jay Howard, founder of the eponymous team, added: “Lochie is the real deal and will have a long and successful career in motorsports. I am happy to retain him as part of the JHDD programme in 2023 and look forward to helping him continue the progression in his career.”