Ben Hughes

Ben Hughes is a driver in the Gravel Racing League. He currently drives for the Mobil team.

Shell (Season One)
After the race at Sunset Peninsula, Shell began to search for a replacement for Kieren Gillespie. The team failed to find a suitable replacement in time for Suzuka. However in the following week they discovered Hughes, an unknown prospect with very little racing experience. Following successful tests he replaced Gillespie to race alongside Robin Hawthorn at Shell in Season One. After six races for the Dutch team, he finished 8th in the championship with 22 points, 2 points behind Jon Golden. Ben Hughes' highest race finish (and only podium) was at Camino Viejo where he came 3rd recording Shell's first podium. Unfortunately for Hughes, Shell pulled out of the sport leaving him without a drive. An opportunity arose however when Owen Jackson rejected new team Mobil 's offer of a drive.

Mobil (Season Two - Season Four)
Hughes signed for Mobil and his team-mate would be rookie Oliver Penfold. The expectations were pretty low going into the new season. Hughes however secured a 4th place finish at Sebring after a long stint in the lead. This result was matched in Sedona and Road America. Financial issues ruled Hughes out of the races at Road Atlanta and the following race at Infineon, but Hughes was able to return at Laguna Seca and finished on the podium for the second time in his career. This was immediately followed by another 3rd place at Indianapolis. After a string of solid points finishes through Japan and the early European season, Hughes scored his best finish to date at the Nurburgring, finishing a strong 2nd after leading for most of the race. His breakthrough victory came at the next round in Mugello, defending his lead from Virgin Motorsport driver Michael Saunders, after Ross Mayger of Abarth retired from the lead. He finished the season 5th place in the points standings, 11 points off 4th place Edward Knight.

He opted to stay with Mobil for Season Three, partnering Myles King as he had done through the second half of Season Two, in what was to be a season of varying fortunes. In the first half of the season in the US saw 3 podiums but also saw Hughes fail to start three times. In the second half, he saw another two podiums, a total of five 4th place finishes along with another DNS, which saw Hughes once again finish in 5th place in the final standings with 59 points.

Hughes extended his contract for a further season in Season Four, recording a single win at Catalunya as well as a 2nd place at Infineon and a 3rd at Silverstone. He finished 5th in the points standings for the third year in a row, with a final total of 69, his greatest total in a single season.