New CUPRA Kiro signining Jake Hughes believes that the GEN4 era of Formula E will play to some of his strengths as he gets set to re-engage with the all-electric world championship after a season away from the paddock.
Hughes signed for the U.S entered team earlier this month, and although has some experience of the GEN4 car via his time as a Mahindra development driver, is yet to get mileage with the Porsche 975 CSE car that he will drive alongside Pepe Marti.
Prior to Formula E, Hughes competed in 27 Formula Two races with HWA Racelab and Van Amersfoort Racing between 2020 and 2022, and believes that F2 experience will be a factor in adapting to the GEN4 cars.
“I don’t think it’s too dissimilar (to F2) in many ways,” Hughes told Formula E Notebook.
“Of course, the traction side of it will be very different, but the high-speed performance and the braking performance is going to be more aligned with an F2 car than anything we’ve had in FE before, so that’s the kind of performance we’re going to have underneath us as drivers.
“I think it’s going to be a championship where you’re going to have your head screwed on very well with how you work with your engineers, because of the way the systems will work with this car to deliver performance in braking and traction will be very crucial.”
Hughes highlighted the fast-paced nature of Formula E weekends and the adapting needed by drivers around the quick processing of data. Hughes hit the ground strongly at the start of the GEN3 era, scoring a pole position in only his second event, and going on to take two further poles and a brace of podium finishes in his three season career with McLaren and Maserati.
“On double header weekends as well, I believe we only get one free practice leading up to it,” said Hughes.
“So, it’s going to be a tight turnaround and is going to be all about adapting very quickly. I feel like that’s always been a strength of mine, and getting the best out of the people around me, not just myself. So, I’d like to think it’s going to suit me well.”
Hughes is set to get his first taste of the CUPRA Kiro Porsche with a shakedown in the UK next week.
