Nigerian-American Teen Clinches Formula Regional Oceania Crown

Nigerian-American racing talent Ugo Ugochukwu has emerged champion of the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy, marking a major career milestone shortly after his exit from the McLaren Formula 1 development programme.

The 18-year-old sealed the title in New Zealand after a dominant season that delivered four race wins and consistent podium finishes across 15 outings. He finished the campaign 15 points ahead of Audi F1 junior driver Freddie Slater.

Ugochukwu’s title run was defined by reliability and composure, with only two finishes outside the top 10 all season.

Despite a late setback caused by a suspension failure during qualifying at the final round, he recovered strongly to secure the points needed to confirm the championship.

The young driver described the victory as a rewarding end to an intense season, praising his team for their year-long effort and resilience under pressure.

Ugochukwu is now set to step up to his second season in FIA Formula 3 with Campos Racing, with the new campaign scheduled to begin at the Australian Grand Prix in March.