Lochie Hughes
{{Short description|Australian racing driver}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox racing driver
|name=Lochie Hughes
|image=Lachlan Hughes Mid Ohio 2024.jpg
|wins=1
|titles=USF Pro 2000 Championship
Formula 4 United States Championship
|awards=2018 Motorsport Australia Young Driver of the Year
|prev series years=2024
2022–23
2022
2018–19
|prev series=USF Pro 2000 Championship
USF2000 Championship
Formula 4 United States Championship
Australian Formula 4 Championship
|year=2025
|best finish=
|fastest laps=1
|starts=3
|nationality= {{flagicon|AUS}} Australian
|car number=26
|current team=Andretti Global
|first year=2025
|current series=Indy NXT|birth_place=Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|2002|03|15|df=y}}
|podiums=3
|former teams=
|poles=2|birth_name=Lachlan Hughes|caption=Hughes at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 2024}}
Lachlan "Lochie" Hughes (born 15 March 2002) is an Australian racing driver.{{Cite web |title=Lochie Hughes (R) |url=https://www.usf2000.com/teams-drivers/current-drivers/lochie-hughes-(r) |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=www.usf2000.com}} He currently competes in the 2025 Indy NXT for Andretti Global. Hughes previously competed in the 2024 USF2000 Championship driving for Jay Howard Driver Development, where he won the title.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |date=2022-10-06 |title=US F4 leader Lochie Hughes stays with JHDD for step up to USF2000 |url=https://formulascout.com/us-f4-leader-lochie-hughes-stays-with-jhdd-for-step-up-to-usf2000/99424 |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}} He is the 2022 Formula 4 United States champion and the 2024 USF Pro 2000 champion.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-09 |title=Hughes, Hyman accept laurels for F4 U.S., FR Americas titles |url=https://racer.com/2022/11/09/hughes-hyman-accept-laurels-for-f4-u-s-fr-americas-titles/ |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=RACER |language=en-US}}
Career
= Karting =
Hughes would have success in karting, finishing 2nd in both the Florida Winter Tour, the WSK Gold cup and the Australian Kart Championship in 2014, 2015 and 2017 respectively.{{fact|date=January 2024}}
= Australian Formula 4 Championship =
== 2018 ==
In 2018, Hughes would make his car racing debut in the Australian Formula 4 Championship driving for Team BRM.{{Cite web |date=2018-04-05 |title=Four Seasons of Formula 4 – Formula 4 |url=http://www.formula4.com.au/?p=12296 |access-date=2023-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405154718/http://www.formula4.com.au/?p=12296 |archive-date=2018-04-05 }} He would get his maiden win in the series at Winton Motor Raceway. Hughes would finish the season 5th in the standings and rookie champion.{{fact|date=January 2024}}
== 2019 ==
Hughes would return to the series in 2019 once again driving for Team BRM.{{Cite web |last=Series |first=Feeder |date=2019-02-18 |title=Australian F4: Team BRM sign runner up Ryan Suhle |url=https://feederseries.net/2019/02/18/australian-f4-team-brm-sign-runner-up-ryan-suhle/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Feeder Series |language=en}} He would get three wins, two poles, and eleven podiums during the season to finish 2nd behind champion Luis Leeds.{{fact|date=January 2024}}
= Formula 4 United States Championship =
After not racing in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hughes would move to the United States to compete in the 2022 Formula 4 United States Championship driving for Jay Howard Driver Development.{{Cite web |title=Lochie Hughes to Drive for JHDD in 2022 F4 United States Championship |url=https://us3.campaign-archive.com/?u=c7db2f6409216d122eb094fcd&id=62bda84e23 |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=us3.campaign-archive.com}} He would start off the season with a win in the first race at NOLA Motorsports Park.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |date=2022-04-11 |title=Lochie Hughes starts US F4 season with points lead |url=https://formulascout.com/lochie-hughes-starts-us-f4-season-with-points-lead/91863 |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}} At the New Jersey Motorsports Park round, Hughes would take pole position, and won all three races on-track, however, a penalty in race one for jumping the start meant that his win would be taken away.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |date=2022-07-31 |title=Hughes denies himself triple US F4 win with jumped start |url=https://formulascout.com/hughes-denies-himself-triple-us-f4-win-with-jumped-start/96995 |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}} Hughes would clinch the championship at the final round at Circuit of the Americas taking two wins to cap off the season.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |date=2022-11-04 |title=JHDD's Lochie Hughes wins the 2022 United States F4 title |url=https://formulascout.com/jhdds-lochie-hughes-wins-the-2022-united-states-f4-title/100498 |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}} He would finish the season with 6 wins, 2 poles, and 10 podiums.
= USF2000 Championship =
== 2022 ==
Hughes would make his debut in the USF2000 Championship in 2022 with Jay Howard Driver Development at the Mid-Ohio round. Finishing 2nd in his first ever race later to be disqualified for a technical infringement.
== 2023 ==
On 6 October 2022, it was announced that Hughes would stay with Jay Howard Driver Development and make the jump up to the USF2000 Championship full-time in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |date=2022-10-06 |title=US F4 leader Lochie Hughes stays with JHDD for step up to USF2000 |url=https://formulascout.com/us-f4-leader-lochie-hughes-stays-with-jhdd-for-step-up-to-usf2000/99424 |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}} At the opening round at St. Petersburg, Hughes would beat competitor Nikita Johnson to pole position by just eight hundredths of a second.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |date=2023-03-03 |title=Hughes edges Johnson to pole for USF2000 opener in St. Petersburg |url=https://formulascout.com/hughes-edges-johnson-to-pole-for-usf2000-opener-in-st-petersburg/104365 |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}} He would manage to convert pole to victory, getting his maiden win of the season.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |date=2023-03-04 |title=Lochie Hughes converts USF2000 pole into victory in St. Petersburg |url=https://formulascout.com/lochie-hughes-converts-usf2000-pole-into-victory-in-st-petersburg/104432 |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}}
= USF Pro 2000 Championship =
== 2024 ==
Hughes made his debut in the 2024 season racing with Turn 3 Motorsport.{{cite web|url=https://racer.com/2024/02/24/hughes-joins-turn-3-motorsports-for-usf-pro-2000-campaign/|title=Hughes joins Turn 3 Motorsports for USF Pro 2000 campaign|last=Pruett|first=Marshall|work=Racer|date=February 24, 2024|accessdate=October 8, 2024}} Claiming five wins, four pole positions and eleven podiums, Hughes won the title at the season finale at Portland ahead of Nikita Johnson.{{cite web|url=https://www.usfpro2000.com/news/hughes-crowned-usf-pro-2000-champion-for-turn-3-motorsport|title=Hughes Crowned USF Pro 2000 Champion for Turn 3 Motorsport|website=USF Pro 2000 Championship|date=August 30, 2024|accessdate=October 8, 2024}}
= Indy NXT =
== 2025 ==
In October 2024, Hughes graduated to the championship for the 2025 season with Andretti Global.{{cite web|url=https://andrettiglobal.com/news/2024/10/lochie-hughes-to-make-indy-nxt-debut-with-andretti-global-in-2025/|title=Lochie Hughes to Make INDY NXT Debut With Andretti Global in 2025|website=Andretti Global|date=October 8, 2024|accessdate=October 8, 2024}} In the opening race of the season at St. Petersburg, he would qualify second behind his teammate Dennis Hauger. Hughes would convert his qualifying result in the race, finishing on the podium in second.{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Peter |date=2025-03-02 |title=Dennis Hauger claims debut Indy Nxt win in Andretti 1-2 |url=https://formulascout.com/dennis-hauger-claims-debut-indy-nxt-win-in-andretti-1-2/128727 |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}} He would score another podium in the second round at Barber, finishing third behind debutant Evagoras Papasavvas and Hauger. For the third round of the season at Indianapolis, Hughes qualified on pole for both Indy GP races, ahead of teammate and championship leader Hauger.{{Cite web |title=Lochie Hughes Sweeps Both Poles for Indianapolis Grand Prix |url=https://www.indynxt.com/news/2025/05/05-09-nxt-qualifying-igp |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=IndyCar.com |language=en}} He would have a dominant performance in race one, leading from the start, and going on to score his maiden win in the series.{{Cite web |title=Lochie Hughes Breaks Through for First INDY NXT Victory at IMS |url=https://www.indynxt.com/news/2025/05/05-09-indygp-nxt-race1 |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=IndyCar.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-05-10 |title=Hughes breaks through for first Indy NXT victory at IMS |url=https://racer.com/2025/05/09/hughes-breaks-through-for-first-indy-nxt-victory-at-ims/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=RACER |language=en-US}} Hughes would close down the gap to Hauger by 30 points to just 3 points following Hauger's finish of eighth.
Racing record
= Karting career summary =
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align:center"
!Season !Series !Team !Position |
| rowspan="4" |2014
|align="left" |Florida Winter Tour – Rotax Mini Max |align="left" |Praga North America |11th |
|---|
| align="left" |Florida Winter Tour – Kart Formula TaG Cadet
|align="left" |IPKarting Australia |style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2nd |
| align="left" |ROK Cup International Final – Mini ROK
|align="left" |Praga Kart Racing |14th |
| align="left" |WSK Final Cup — 60 Mini
|align="left" | |16th |
| rowspan="3" |2015
|align="left" |WSK Night Edition — 60 Mini |rowspan="3" align="left" |Birel ART |7th |
| align="left" |WSK Gold Cup — 60 Mini
|style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2nd |
| align="left" |South Garda Winter Cup – Mini ROK
|6th |
| rowspan="4" |2016
|align="left" |CIK-FIA European Championship — OK Junior |align="left" | |52nd |
| align="left" |WSK Night Edition — OKJ
|align="left" |Novalux Srl |12th |
| align="left" |Australian Kart Championship – KA2
|align="left" | |4th |
| align="left" |Italian Championship — OKJ
|align="left" | |13th |
| rowspan="2" |2017
|align="left" |Australian Kart Championship – KA2 |align="left" | |style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2nd |
| align="left" |Race Of Stars
|align="left" |Birel ART |style="background:#FFFFBF;| 1st |
= Racing career summary =
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align:center"
!Season !Series !Team !Races !Wins !Poles !F/Laps !Podiums !Points !Position |
| 2018
|align="left" |Australian Formula 4 Championship |align="left" |Team BRM |21 |1 |0 |1 |2 |224 |5th |
|---|
| 2019
|align="left" |Australian Formula 4 Championship |align="left" |Team BRM |18 |3 |2 |0 |11 |266 |style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2nd |
| rowspan="2" |2022
|align="left" |Formula 4 United States Championship |rowspan="2" align="left" |Jay Howard Driver Development |18 |6 |2 |5 |10 |277 |style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1st |
| align="left" |USF2000 Championship
|3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |22 |28th |
| 2023
|align="left" |USF2000 Championship |align="left" |Jay Howard Driver Development |18 |4 |2 |0 |8 |335 |style="background:#FFDF9F;" |3rd |
| 2024
|align=left| USF Pro 2000 Championship |align=left| Turn 3 Motorsport |18 |5 |4 |3 |11 |395 |style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1st |
| 2025
|align=left| Indy NXT |align=left| Andretti Global |3 |1 |2 |1 |3 |130* |style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2nd* |
=Complete Australian Formula 4 Championship results =
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
! Year ! Team ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 15 ! 16 ! 17 ! 18 ! 19 ! 20 ! 21 ! DC ! Points |
| 2018
!nowrap| Team BRM |style=background:#DFFFDF| SYM |style=background:#DFFFDF| SYM |style=background:#DFFFDF| SYM |style=background:#DFFFDF| PHI |style=background:#DFFFDF| PHI |style=background:#DFFFDF| PHI |style=background:#DFFFDF| QLD |style=background:#DFFFDF| QLD |style=background:#DFFFDF| QLD |style=background:#DFFFDF| WIN1 |style=background:#FFFFBF| WIN1 |style=background:#DFFFDF| WIN1 |style=background:#DFFFDF| WIN2 |style=background:#EFCFFF| WIN2 |style=background:#DFFFDF| WIN2 |style=background:#DFFFDF| SYD |style=background:#DFFFDF| SYD |style=background:#DFFFDF| SYD |style=background:#DFFFDF| PUK |style=background:#FFDF9F| PUK |style=background:#DFFFDF| PUK ! 5th ! 224 |
| 2019
!nowrap| Team BRM |style=background:#FFDF9F| MEL |style=background:#DFFFDF| MEL |style=background:#DFFFDF| MEL |style=background:#DFDFDF| SYD |style=background:#EFCFFF| SYD |style=background:#DFDFDF| SYD |style=background:#DFFFDF| PHI1 |style=background:#FFFFBF| PHI1 |style=background:#FFFFFF| PHI1 |style=background:#DFDFDF| PHI2 |style=background:#DFFFDF| PHI2 |style=background:#FFDF9F| PHI2 |style=background:#DFFFDF| BEN1 |style=background:#FFFFBF| BEN1 |style=background:#DFDFDF| BEN1 |style=background:#FFFFBF| BEN2 |style=background:#FFDF9F| BEN2 |style=background:#DFDFDF| BEN2 |colspan=3| !style=background:#DFDFDF|2nd !style=background:#DFDFDF|266 |
=Complete Formula 4 United States Championship results=
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
!Year !Team !1 !2 !3 !4 !5 !6 !7 !8 !9 !10 !11 !12 !13 !14 !15 !16 !17 !18 !Pos !Points |
| 2022
!nowrap| Jay Howard Driver Development |style="background:#FFFFBF| NOL |style="background:#DFFFDF| NOL |style="background:#DFDFDF| NOL |style="background:#DFDFDF| ROA |style="background:#DFFFDF| ROA |style="background:#DFFFDF| ROA |style="background:#CFCFFF| MOH |style="background:#FFFFBF| MOH |style="background:#DFFFDF| MOH |style="background:#DFFFDF| NJM |style="background:#FFFFBF| NJM |style="background:#FFFFBF| NJM |style="background:#EFCFFF| VIR |style="background:#DFDFDF| VIR |style="background:#DFDFDF| VIR |style="background:#DFFFDF| COA |style="background:#FFFFBF| COA |style="background:#FFFFBF| COA !style=background:#FFFFBF| 1st !style=background:#FFFFBF| 277 |
=American open-wheel racing results=
==USF2000 Championship==
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) (Races with * indicate most race laps led)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
!Year !Team !1 !2 !3 !4 !5 !6 !7 !8 !9 !10 !11 !12 !13 !14 !15 !16 !17 !18 !Rank !Points |
| 2022
!nowrap|Jay Howard Driver Development | STP | STP | ALA | ALA | IMS | IMS | IMS | IRP | ROA | ROA |style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF;"| MOH |style=background:#CFCFFF;| MOH |style=background:#DFFFDF;| MOH | TOR | TOR | POR | POR | POR !style=background:#CFCFFF| 28th !style=background:#CFCFFF| 22 |
| 2023
!nowrap|Jay Howard Driver Development |style=background:#FFFFBF| STP |style=background:#FFDF9F| STP |style=background:#FFFFBF| SEB |style=background:#DFFFDF| SEB |style=background:#DFDFDF| IMS |style=background:#DFDFDF| IMS |style=background:#FFFFBF| IMS |style=background:#CFEAFF| IRP |style=background:#CFCFFF| ROA |style=background:#FFFFBF| ROA |style=background:#DFFFDF| MOH |style=background:#EFCFFF| MOH |style=background:#EFCFFF| MOH |style=background:#EFCFFF| TOR |style=background:#FFDF9F| TOR |style=background:#DFFFDF| POR |style=background:#CFCFFF| POR |style=background:#CFEAFF| POR !style=background:#FFDF9F| 3rd !style=background:#FFDF9F| 335 |
==USF Pro 2000 Championship==
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) (Races with * indicate most race laps led)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
!Year !Team !1 !2 !3 !4 !5 !6 !7 !8 !9 !10 !11 !12 !13 !14 !15 !16 !17 !18 !Rank !Points |
| 2024
!nowrap|Turn 3 Motorsport |style=background:#FFFFBF| STP |style=background:#DFDFDF| STP |style=background:#EFCFFF| LOU |style=background:#EFCFFF| LOU |style=background:#CFEAFF| LOU |style=background:#FFDF9F| IMS |style=background:#DFDFDF| IMS |style=background:#FFDF9F| IMS |style=background:#FFDF9F| IRP |style=background:#FFFFBF| ROA |style=background:#FFFFBF| ROA |style=background:#FFFFBF| ROA |style=background:#DFFFDF|MOH |style=background:#CFEAFF| MOH |style=background:#CFEAFF| TOR |style=background:#FFFFBF| TOR |style=background:#CFEAFF| POR |style=background:#DFDFDF| POR !style=background:#FFFFBF| 1st !style=background:#FFFFBF| 395 |
==Indy NXT==
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) (Races with L indicate a race lap led) (Races with * indicate most race laps led)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
! Year ! Team ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! Rank ! Points |
| 2025
! nowrap| Andretti Global | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| STP | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| BAR | style="background:#FFFFBF;"| IMS | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| IMS | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DET | style="background:#;"| GMP | style="background:#;"| RDA | style="background:#;"| MDO | style="background:#;"| IOW | style="background:#;"| LAG | style="background:#;"| LAG | style="background:#;"| POR | style="background:#;"| MIL | style="background:#;"| NSH ! style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2nd* ! style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 203* |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{DriverDB driver|lochie-hughes}}
- [https://thethirdturn.com/wiki/Lochie_Hughes Lochie_Hughes] at Third Turn.
{{Indy NXT Series teams}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hughes, Lochie}}
Category:U.S. F2000 National Championship drivers
Category:Racing drivers from the Gold Coast, Queensland
Category:Australian F4 Championship drivers
Category:United States F4 Championship drivers
Category:Indy Pro 2000 Championship drivers