Lochie Hughes leads Formula 4 US standings after season opener in New Orleans

Aussie Lochie Hughes has taken the points lead of the Formula 4 US standings after the season opener in New Orleans.

Lochie Hughes leaves the dummy grid in New Orleans.(NOLA Motorsports Park)

Hughes won the first race of the weekend at NOLA Motorsports Park before putting in a pair of consistent showings in the two races on Sunday which included second place in race three.

Hughes started on pole for race two but was dropped to third as Bryson Morris and Matt Christensen sped past in a duel for the lead.

Christensen had secured the lead before a red flag suspended the race, before taking a three second margin at the restart.

Morris was able to chase down the Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport driver in the final stages, racing side-by-side down the front straight on lap 14 and coming out in front in time for the chequered flag.

Hughes fell to fifth by the flag but the result still secured valuable championship points and a third-row starting position for the final race of the weekend.

Nicholas Rivers started third and was up into the lead by lap three, holding steady three two restarts and a late-race challenge from teammate Noah Ping to take the race victory.

Ping crossed the line second followed by Hughes who had made his way back through the field to finish third.

A post-race penalty for Ping for causing a collision dropped him to thirteenth and promoted Hughes to the second step of the podium ahead of Alex Berg.

Hughes leads the standings on 53 points, ten points clear of Morris in second with 43 points, with Rivers in third on 33 points.

The Formula 4 United States championship returns May 19-22 at Road America.