F3 Champion Ugo Ugochukwu: “I’m Proud of My Nigerian Roots”

Photo Credit: Ugo Ugochukwu celebrates his FIA Formula 3 Championship at Madring in Madrid. Photo by Jakub Porzycki / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP
F3 Champion Ugo Ugochukwu: “I’m Proud of My Nigerian Roots”
Nigerian-American driver Ugo Ugochukwu has said he is proud to represent his Nigerian heritage after being crowned the 2026 FIA Formula 3 Drivers’ Champion.

The 19-year-old clinched the title on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at the new Madring circuit in Madrid, Spain. Ugochukwu finished second in the final Feature Race of the season to secure the championship ahead of Britain’s Freddie Slater.

Born in New York, Ugochukwu ended the season with 159 points — 14 points clear of Slater, who finished eighth in the final race. Finland’s Tuukka Taponen won the Feature Race and finished third overall in the championship standings.

Speaking to SuperSport after winning the title, Ugochukwu, whose mother is Nigerian supermodel Oluchi Onweagba, said representing Africa on the podium means a lot to him.
“It’s amazing and I’m super proud of my Nigerian roots on my mum’s side. Every time I can get to the podium and get my name out there for anyone watching and supporting in Africa, it means a lot. Hopefully, I can be a role model to all the kids who like to have this dream as well,” he said.
The title caps a remarkable second season in F3 for the McLaren junior driver. He recorded seven podium finishes including two victories in 2026, after finishing 16th in his debut season with PREMA Racing in 2025.

Ugochukwu, son of Oluchi Onweagba and her Italian husband Luca Orlandi, has enjoyed a rapid rise through motorsport — from winning the CIK-FIA European Championship in karting, to finishing third in British F4 in 2022, second in Italian F4 in 2023, and winning the prestigious Macau Grand Prix in 2024.

Source: Punch Newspapers