Hughes made his car racing debut in 1989, driving in the British Formula Ford Junior 1600, and the Formula Ford Festival, finishing tenth in the latter. His debut in the FF1600, however, was notable for being a third-place finish, ahead of David Coulthard. In addition to entering the Junior FF1600 in 1990, which he won, he would enter the Formula Ford Festival for the next two years, finishing second in 1991. In 1991, he also finished second overall in the Formula Vauxhall Lotus series, driving for Team JLR, having won three races.