Hughes looking to rediscover form after Sydney slump

Jarrod Hughes is looking to put a horror start to his 2025 Dunlop Super2 Series behind him next weekend at Round 2 in Tasmania.

The 2024 Super2 rookie of the year was left buried in the pack for both races at Sydney Motorsport Park as Image Racing struggled with all three cars prepared by the team.

Whilst Jobe Stewart's Erebus-entered Commodore finished second to Cameron McLeod in Race 1 on Saturday, it was a lack of pace on new tyres in qualifying that cruelled the team's chances.

Hughes qualified 13th for the opening race of the season, before being disqualified from Sunday qualifying after the team committed a procedural breach in pit lane.

17th in points entering Tasmania, Hughes told Supercars.com that there were some positives to take out of the weekend despite finishes of 13th and 20th.

"Sydney was definitely a struggle for us, but not entirely. On Friday we were really, really happy with the car, really happy with where we were at," said Hughes.

"As soon as we whacked on the new tyre on Saturday, from that point onwards it was just struggle city, we just couldn't seem to work out anything with the car.

"It's almost like we went from a Super2 car to a different car to be honest with you. I just lost all confidence in it and just didn't have any faith in the car on Saturday and Sunday to do what I know I can do.

"We had a test a couple of weeks ago, and once again on the old tyre we were really, really good and then we put the new tyre on and it's just not so good."

The tight confines of Symmons Plains expected to create wild racing across both of the 40-minute races to be contested by the Super2 field next weekend, something Hughes knows all too well from a Trans Am appearance a few weeks ago.

Qualifying well in Tasmania is something that Hughes will be placing a big emphasis on next weekend, with the 20-year-old admitting that passing could be difficult on the tight circuit.

"A joint like that just makes qualifying so much more important, it's a hard place to pass," he said.

"In the TA2 there was definitely some manoeuvres you could do and some passing was done, but it is a harder joint to pass at, especially if the bloke in front of you doesn't really want you to past, and they can block pretty easily around there.

"It definitely puts a bit more emphasis on qualifying, and a bit more emphasis on the Top Five Shootout and getting that right because there's a bit to gain out of that."

The Erebus Academy member is also eyeing off a berth in Sunday's Top Five Shootout, the first one-lap qualifying shootout to be held in the history of the Super2 Series.

Hughes, who is another young gun to come through Paul Morris' Norwell Motorplex, is eagerly anticipating the chance to contest a shootout in a Supercar, having already contested several shootouts throughout his career.

"We do lots of Shootouts out at Norwell which gives me good experience with that, so it would be cool to actually do one properly. I've done a few in Excels, which is a bit of a different ballgame, and I've done some in TA2 as well," he said.

"To do one in Super2, I think it's a great opportunity. I think the boys and girls at Supercars have done an awesome job to bring that to the table because it's gonna spice it up a bit, I'm looking forward to it.

"And I think it's a hard joint to do a Shootout at as well, because it's just one small mistake and you can go from first to 20th in a full qualifying session, so it's going to be interesting to see what happens with that, but keen to get into it that's for sure."

Despite the slow start to his campaign, Hughes is still confident that he can vault himself back to the pointy end of the field, and is eyeing off a maiden Super2 victory and podium before the year is out, having claimed his maiden pole at Sandown last year.

"You can't take yourself out of the championship, I think it's been proved a few times that you can have a couple of bad races, but as long as you stay consistent and do well you can come back from it, but it is going to be hard to come back from that.

"We'll just focus on getting good results whenever we can, as much as we can, there are gonna be some boxes that I want to tick this year. Not the ideal start, but I think there's still a lot to achieve this year that's for sure."

Round 2 of the 2025 Dunlop Super2 Series will be held at the Snowy River Caravans Tasmania Super 440 from May 9-11. Tickets for the event are on sale now.