programme as well as coaching on the brand’s GT Driver Development Programme. Racing career Early career Hughes made his car racing debut in 1989, driving in the British Formula Ford Junior 1600, and the Formula Ford Festival, finishing tenth in the latter. His debut in the FF1600, however, was notable for being a third-place finish, ahead of David Coulthard. In addition to entering the Junior FF1600 in 1990, which he won, he would enter the Formula Ford Festival for the next two years, finishing second in 1991. In 1991, he also finished second overall in the Formula Vauxhall Lotus series, driving for Team JLR, having won three races. For the 1992 British Formula 3 season, Hughes stepped up to the British Formula 3 Championship, finishing seventh whilst driving for Edenbridge Racing, with an eighth place at the Masters of Formula 3. For the following season, he finished fourth in the British F3, driving for Richard Arnold Developments, whilst he also unsuccessfully entered the German Formula Three Championship with RAD, and the Macau Grand Prix with March Engineering. In 1994, he competed in two rounds of the British F3 series (driving one race for March, and one for P1 Engineering), and five of the All-Japan Formula Three Championship (for HKS, in addition to completing a Formula One test for Lotus. He returned to the British F3 full-time in 1995, this time for Alan Docking Racing, and once again finished fourth, with an eleventh place at the Macau Grand Prix (for HKS), and a retirement at the Masters of Formula 3 (for ADR). The 1996 season saw a brief change of course for Hughes, with five races in the German STW series with Ford, scoring four points, whilst he also tested the Ford Mondeo in the British Touring Car Championship. He returned to the British F3 in 1997 for eight rounds, driving for Piers Portman Racing and remained there in 1998, once again finishing fourth. In 1999, he moved to the MGF Cup, winning seven of the 14 races, and setting 11 fastest laps, to become champion, whilst also competing in two races of the British F3 for Ralt. In 2000, he switched to the Italian Formula 3000 for Arden Team Russia. He was championship runner-up, only missing the podium in 3 races. Hughes also tested for the Williams Formula One team during that year, but was unable to become full-time test