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LUKE HUGHESBiography
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Luke started karting on Christmas Day 2001 on a Tony Baby Kart it was not long before Luke was asking his dad former Rotax Max Champion Tony to make it go faster. This was not possible so it was a new Tony Kart WTP next with the seat and peddles as close as possible so he could drive it, Luke first went to Glan Y Gors park to the Dragon Kart Club meetings with his dad and it was not long before it was agreed that Luke could test on the Saturday with the cadets that were racing on the Sunday.
Luke then started to have driver tuition from Nathan Freak of Century Motorsport which improved his driving. Due to Nathan's other commitments this could not continue so Luke was then coached by the 2002 British FA champion Mark Roachford and his dad Peter, a former champion himself, down at Clay Pigeon in Dorset. Many thanks have to go to Mark and Peter for their patience and for setting Luke on his way in his karting career.
It was not long before it was clear Luke could keep up with most of the field so, in January 2004, Luke had his first taste of a Comer W60 bought and prepared by Tommy Motorsport. This was a real test for him and, finding himself running with the front of the pack, it was decided that we would run these engines instead of the WTP's.
As the months ticked by towards Luke 8th birthday in October and his ARKS test we kept on testing. He did his ARKS test 2 weeks before his birthday and passed with no problems. His licence arrived on his birthday, 14th October 2004, and his first race was just three days later. This was a nail biting time for his dad, but Luke finished well up the grids in the heats after starting at the back P10 for the start in the final and Luke went on to win his 1st novice race and, better still, 4th overall.
To get of his novice plate we visited Three Sisters in Wigan and Fulbeck in Lincolnshire where Luke took the novice wins first time on the tracks which made it four wins in his 1st four novice races.
In 2005, Luke competed on a Zip Blade with Tommy Motors at MBKC, Three Sisters and Glan Y Gors in North Wales, along with as many other club meetings as we can fit in to gain valuable track time and knowledge with a view of Stars of Tomorrow and Super 1 in 2006.
In July 2005, Luke recorded his first ever overall win, set the fastest lap and then finished as vice champion at GYG in North Wales in his first year after dominating the final round in November. Luke won the first heat then went onto win the 2nd heat by over 9 secs. The third heat was cut short due to an accident but Luke came from the back to finish 2nd smashing the lap record (50.14). This gave Luke pole position for the final, at the lights Luke disappeared into the distance and was not troubled at all winning by a margin of over 5.5 seconds but to his amazement once again smashed the lap recorded which he had just set (50.05 secs).
Luke tied on points after dropped rounds but missed out on the overall title because the champion had more wins than Luke, but it was still a remarkable achievement considering it is Luke's rookie year and the champion's last year in cadets.
Luke also finished 8th overall in the MBKC championships at Three Sisters in Wigan and 2006 looks like being a good year for Luke as he has now had the chance to race at most of the circuits that he will contest the British Championships at this year.
Luke has agreed a deal with Soixante Racing from Hereford to use their works engines for 2006 and is very pleased with the testing results over the winter.
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