Jake Hughes will make a surprise return to the Formula E grid after agreeing a deal with CUPRA Kiro to join Pepe Marti at the U.S entered team for the 2026-27 season.
Hughes, who has been racing in the European Le Mans Series this season in addition to holding a development role at Mahindra, was formally announced at the Paris Motor Show today.
He joins CUPRA Kiro as the team embarks on its second deal with Porsche. It originally signed an agreement with the German manufacturer in September 2024 and raced in the final GEN3 seasons using the Porsche 99X Electric, with which it won two E-Prixs, gained three pole positions and three other podium places.
The choice of Hughes means that Dan Ticktum’s five season stint at the team (known previously as NIO333, Electric Racing Technology and Kiro Race Company) comes to an end. Ticktum is expected to stay in Formula E with either the Fortescue Zero, Lola or the still to be officially named or entered New Company Formula E Team.
Speaking to Formula E Notebook at the Portimao ELMS finale last weekend, Hughes said that one of the first things he had said to CUPRA Kiro Team Principal, Russell O’Hagan, was “that it felt like it had been a long time coming.”
That reflected several prior negotiations including this time last year when Hughes shook down the CUPRA Kiro GEN3Evo Porsches at Abingdon airfield ahead of the pre-season Valencia test. A possible race deal, while not promised, was discussed around this time, until Pepe Marti became available and was snapped up for the seat alongside Ticktum.
“I went to that test kind of hopeful I would be in the car, and that didn’t materialize, and that’s fine because that’s professional sport and that these things happen,” said Hughes.
“I think Pepe did an absolutely amazing job last year, especially in the races, he was very impressive, and I think the team in general was performing very highly.
“They would probably say they would like a little bit more consistency, I would tend to say, and that’s why I say I’m looking forward to hopefully shouldering that responsibility from my side of the garage. I’m super proud to be here, it’s a very well run team.”
How the Hughes deal happened
Even up until early last week Jake Hughes was a relative outsider to take the CUPRA Kiro seat, with Ayhancan Guven, Dan Ticktum and Paul Aron all appearing to be a more likely signing for the team.
Discussions escalated at a key point last week when it became clear that Ticktum and Aron deals were unlikely to be completed, while the fate of Guven in Formula E has added complexity through the possibility of the new Porsche customer team, known presently as New Company, being activated.
Hughes was always a consideration for the seat but his talks with CUPRA Kiro had not been particularly intense or detailed up until last week’s formal signing.
FEN understands that elements within the team were very keen on Hughes for what it considered to be a need for stability via a proven team player. Hughes garnered a reputation at both McLaren and Maserati MSG in his three seasons in Formula E as exactly that, which was a key attraction after a fractious final season with Ticktum.
CUPRA Kiro recently completed the build of their Porsche GEN4 cars at Weissach in Germany before planning to run them this months prior to flying to Spain for testing at Valencia and Jarama.
