Andretti Global announced Oct. 7 that Lochie Hughes will return to its INDY NXT lineup for the 2026 INDY NXT by Firestone season, driving the No. 26 entry.

2024 USF Pro 2000 champion Hughes will join Seb Murray as an Andretti driver in the INDYCAR development series and serve as an Andretti INDYCAR SERIES reserve driver next season. Hughes, 23, from Australia, will test an Andretti NTT INDYCAR SERIES car Oct. 13 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

“I’m really excited to be returning to Andretti Global for the 2026 INDY NXT season,” Hughes said. “It was a dream to drive for this team this past season, and I’m proud that we finished third in the championship. I’m looking forward to building on that success next year with a team I know well now.

“I am also beyond excited to be doing my first INDYCAR test. It’s something I’ve looked forward to for a long time and doing it in Indy makes it even more special. It will be a great experience to work closely with the team as an INDYCAR reserve driver in 2026.”

Lochie Hughes

Hughes (photo, above) finished third in the championship with Andretti Global in his debut INDY NXT season in 2025, earning two victories, two poles, eight podium finishes and 12 top-10 finishes in 14 starts. His first series win came from the pole in Race 1 of the Indianapolis Grand Prix in May on the IMS road course. His other victory came on an oval, in June at World Wide Technology Raceway.

“We are delighted to welcome Lochie back to the Andretti INDY NXT family for the 2026 season,” Andretti Global Team Principal Rob Edwards said. “Coming off a successful rookie year with two wins and six podium finishes, the goal for 2026 is very clear: We expect Lochie to challenge for the INDY NXT championship. Both Christian Rasmussen and Louis Foster have shown the growth and maturity that a second season in INDY NXT brings, and I am confident we will see more of the same with Lochie.”

After his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES test at IMS, Hughes will return to the Racing Capital of the World on Oct. 27 with Andretti’s INDY NXT team for the annual Chris Griffis Memorial Test.