- Nigerian-American racing star becomes first U.S. driver to win FIA Formula 3 title
By Princely Onyenwe | Sports Desk
MADRID, SPAIN — Nigerian-American racing star Ugo Ugochukwu has made motorsport history by winning the 2026 FIA Formula 3 Drivers’ Championship, becoming the first driver representing the United States to claim the title.
The 19-year-old Campos Racing driver sealed the championship with a second-place finish in the decisive Feature Race at the Madring in Madrid on Sunday, finishing the season with 159 points, 14 ahead of British rival Freddie Slater, who ended on 145 points.
Finnish driver Tuukka Taponen won the Feature Race for MP Motorsport, while Pedro Clerot finished third. Slater, who had led the championship into the final weekend, finished eighth as Ugochukwu secured the points needed to take the crown.
Ugochukwu’s breakthrough season included Feature Race victory in Melbourne and a Sprint Race win at Silverstone, complemented by a series of podium finishes that established him as one of the leading young talents in international single-seater racing.
The achievement marks a landmark moment for American motorsport, with the FIA confirming Ugochukwu as the first FIA Formula 3 champion from the United States.
Beyond his American representation, the championship has a strong Nigerian connection. Born in New York City on April 23, 2007, Ugochukwu is the son of Nigerian fashion model Oluchi Onweagba and Italian fashion designer Luca Orlandi. He races under the American flag while retaining strong Nigerian roots through his mother.
His motorsport journey began in karting, where he won the FIA Karting OK-Junior European Championship in 2020. He later moved into single-seater racing and won the inaugural Euro 4 Championship in 2023 before claiming the prestigious Macau Grand Prix in 2024.
Ugochukwu joined the McLaren Driver Development Programme as a teenager and made his FIA Formula 3 debut with PREMA Racing in 2025. After finishing 16th in his rookie campaign, he switched to Campos Racing for 2026 and produced a dramatic improvement that culminated in the championship.
Earlier this year, he also won the Formula Regional Oceania Championship, adding another major title to his rapidly developing career.
His 2026 FIA Formula 3 triumph further strengthens his credentials as he targets progression through the international single-seater ladder, with Formula 2 and ultimately Formula One representing the next stages of his ambition.
Ugochukwu’s historic victory has sparked celebrations among his Nigerian supporters, who have hailed the achievement as another major milestone for a young driver with deep Nigerian family roots.
#Congratulations Ugo Ugochukwu. 🇳🇬🇺🇸🏆
For inquiries on this news contact 9News Nigeria on +23408036856526
