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Jarrod Hughes: Embracing the Kaizen

By Timothy Neal

Date posted: September 22, 2023

TGRA 86 talent Jarrod Hughes in the latest instalment for AUTO ACTION’s Young Guns feature in our latest issue, availbale in stores and online now.

Jarrod Hughes and his close knit Toyota 86 ACDelco backed team.

Fresh from the Sandown 500 supports, Hughes performed brilliantly in the TGRA 86 field, putting aside the gearing issues that have plagued him all year to capture a sweep of podiums after qualifying in P5.

He’s is a driver that’s gotten big wraps from the right people, who shows a constant will to improve as he’s climbed up through the state and national ranks, making the 18-year-old the perfect subject for AUTO ACTION’s latest Young Guns feature.

With the strong support of the Norwell Motorplex and ACDelco, Hughes is driving himself up through the national ranks

At the end of the 2022 racing season Jarrod Hughes was awarded one of Toyota’s most prestigious national and global recognitions when he received the Kaizen Award for his efforts in the 2022 Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia 86 Series.

The term Kaizen encapsulates a Japanese philosophy that simply means an ongoing and continuous improvement through a methodical process to achieve success; and it’s a term that suits the journey of the 18-Year-old Brisbane resident to a T.

Hughes motorsport story starts through Karting at the age of 10, through to Hyundai Excel racing, TGRA 86, and more recently an appearance in the TA2 Muscle Car Series at Hidden Valley’s world first co-driver TA2 event.

AUTO ACTION’s latest Young Guns feature concentrates on TGRA 86 driver Jarrod Hughes

He is also embedded in the Norwell Motorplex on the Gold Coast and cites the heavy influence of Paul “The Dude” Morris, and in befitting the Kaizen philosophy, Hughes has been able to approach his race craft from another angle having been made a driving instructor and track manager at Norwell.

On top of Morris’s tutelage, ACDelco has also been a big part of Hughes racing backbone as a sponsor on his cars for the last seven years. 

Jarrod Hughes racing his ACDelco backed Toyota 86 race car

Jarrod Hughes racing his ACDelco backed Toyota 86 race car at The Bend Supercars Round.

Having been there from his Karting days and through to the present, they’ll hopefully be there into the future as Hughes gets ready to step things up a gear on his promising career pathway.

Like many young racers in Australia his goals are orientated towards racing in the main game, with the TGRA series being one vital step in that process as Supercars teams utilise it as a base-breeding ground for Australia’s up-and-coming talent…

Hughes cites Paul Morris (right) as a major influence on his progression

To read the full article, pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION from a stockist near you, or click here to download issue #1970 now.

For more of the latest motorsport news, pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION or subscribe HERE

Latest podcast: It’s post Sandown and have we got a stack to talk about!

The action off the track at Sandown was just as exciting as the action on it, and we cover it all in our latest podcast! Triple 8 boss Jamie Whincup show everyone he is THE BOSS… Is Tickford set for a leadership shake up, and a new Formula 1 winner, there is plenty to talk about this week.

Listen to our latest podcast episode here or on your podcast app of choice.

    

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