AFTER missing out on a 2026 Supercars seat, Jarrod Hughes is leaving no stone unturned in the quest to ensure he’s not in the same position this time next year.
It’s a big reason why he was on the ground at the NTI Townsville 500, dovetailing some TV opportunities with immersing himself in the Erebus Motorsport camp ahead of his enduro co-drive with Jobe Stewart.
“I’m just trying to stay relevant,” Hughes told V8 Sleuth.
“It’s hard when you’re not racing Super2 and you’re not there every weekend. I’ve got the luxury of doing Trans Am, so from now on I’m pretty much at every single (Supercars) round.
“There’s a lot of people in my position going for seats, so it’s easy to get lost if you’re not there all the time. So for me I’m just trying to stay around as much as I can.
“Even the commentary work, you stay relevant but it’s a really cool experience, to do something out of the comfort zone compared to what driving a car is like. I’m trying to tick more of a commercial box as well.
“That’s what I want to do one day, is jump into one of these seats in Supercars, so probably a bigger part of it now is being commercially viable for a team.
“I’m just trying to do everything I can to tick every box so I’m ready to go next year.
“I knew I was ready this year, I just didn’t get the opportunity, so I just want to tick every box so that we’re ready to rumble if the opportunity arises.”
Jarrod Hughes with Jobe Stewart at the 2025 Bathurst 1000. Pic: Mark Walker
There’s anticipated to be minimal movement in the upcoming silly season, with Erebus and PremiAir Racing among the few focal points.
Hughes stepped back from Super2 for this year, instead moving into Trans Am on the back of winning the 2025 TA2 title.
In a field of proven operators, Hughes is third in the standings: behind Nathan Herne and James Moffat, and ahead of Todd Hazelwood.
Hughes has also been a regular in GT4, but won’t be on the grid at Darwin later this month.