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Ugo Ugochukwu Orlandi (born April 23, 2007) is an American racing driver. He most recently competed in the Formula Regional European Championship with Prema Racing. He previously finished third in the F4 British Championship racing for Carlin and was runner-up in the 2023 Italian F4 Championship for Prema.[1][2]

Ugo Ugochukwu
Ugo Ugochukwu (2024)
NationalityUnited States American
Born (2007-04-23) April 23, 2007 (age 17)
New York City, New York, United States of America
Formula Regional European Championship career
Debut season2024
Current teamPrema Racing
Car number3
Starts20 (20 entries)
Wins1
Podiums2
Poles1
Fastest laps0
Best finish11th in 2024
Previous series
2023
2023
20222023
2022
2022
Euro 4 Championship
Formula 4 UAE Championship
Italian F4 ChampionshipF4 British Championship
ADAC Formula 4
Championship titles
2023
2024
Euro 4 Championship
FIA FR World Cup

He is a member of the McLaren Driver Development Programme.[3]

Career

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Karting

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Ugochukwu began his karting career in America, winning the Micro ROK Cup USA in 2014 and the Florida Winter Tour in 2015 before moving to Italy to compete in European championships.[4][5][6][7] He went on to win the X30 Mini category of the IAME International Open in 2017 and the Junior ROK category of the Challenge of the Americas in 2018.[4][8] In 2020 he took victory in the FIA OK-Junior European Karting Championship.[3][9]

Formula 4

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2022

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Ugochukwu driving at the Red Bull Ring during the 2022 Italian F4 Championship

In 2021 Ugochukwu took part in an F4 testing program with Motopark, including tracks like Estoril and Oschersleben.[10][11] In 2022 he progressed onto the junior formula ladder, driving for Carlin in British F4 alongside Williams junior Oliver Gray and New Zealander Louis Sharp.[12] On the day of his first weekend, when Ugochukwu turned 15 which allowed him to be eligible to race in Formula 4, the American took his first pole position.[13] He would be unable to convert it into a victory, taking third place along with the fastest lap in race 1 at Donington Park. In the remainder of the season Ugochukwu took two race wins at Brands Hatch and Knockhill to finish third in the championship behind Alex Dunne and Oliver Gray and also became Rookie Cup champion.[6][14]

In August Ugochukwu joined Prema Racing to race in some of the remaining rounds of the Italian F4 Championship and ADAC Formula 4 Championship, where he achieved multiple podium finishes.[6][14][15]

2023

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Ugochukwu driving at the Mugello Circuit during the 2023 Italian F4 Championship

He remained with Prema for 2023 competing in the Formula 4 UAE Championship and Italian F4 Championship.[14] In the UAE championship he took five wins en route to third in the standings.[16] In the Italian championship he became vice-champion after fighting Kacper Sztuka for the title until the final round at Vallelunga Circuit.[17][18] In 2023 Ugochukwu also became the first champion of the new Euro 4 Championship.[19]

Formula Regional

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Ugochukwu driving at the Hungaroring during the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship

In 2024 Ugochukwu remained with Prema Racing to compete in the Formula Regional European Championship where he finished eleventh, taking a race win at the season finale at Monza.[20][21] Ugochukwu also competed in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship with the Mumbai Falcons, placing 7th overall.[22]

Later that year, Ugochukwu joined R-ace GP to contest the Macau Grand Prix. He qualified on pole position and won the race, becoming the first American winner of the event since Bob Earl in 1981.[23]

FIA Formula 3

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Ugochukwu took part in post-season testing of the 2023 FIA Formula 3 Championship with Rodin Carlin.[24] He will also compete in the non-championship Macau Grand Prix with Trident.[25][26]

2025

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In October 2024, Ugochukwu was announced to be stepping up to FIA Formula 3, whilst continuing his relationship with Prema Racing.[27]

Formula One

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Following his victory in the FIA OK-Junior European Karting Championship with the Sauber Karting Team in 2020, Ugochukwu signed a long-term deal with the McLaren Driver Development Programme in 2021 to facilitate his transition from junior motorsport to professional racing driver.[3][6][9]

Formula E

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In May 2024, McLaren Formula E Team announced that Ugochukwu and Grégoire Saucy will drive for the team at the official rookie test at the Berlin ePrix.[28]

Personal life

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Ugochukwu is the son of Nigerian model Oluchi Onweagba and Italian fashion designer Luca Orlandi.[7][29][30]

Karting record

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Karting career summary

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Season Series Team Position
2015 SKUSA Pro Tour — TaG Cadet 12th
SKUSA SuperNationals — TaG Cadet Team Koene USA 34th
Florida Winter Tour — Rotax Micro Max 1st
2016 WSK Champions Cup — 60 Mini Orlandi, Luca NC
WSK Super Master Series — 60 Mini Energy Corse 28th
WSK Night Edition — 60 Mini 27th
Italian Championship — 60 Mini 6th
ROK Cup Italy Area Nord — Mini ROK 56th
ROK Cup International Final — Mini ROK Energy Corse 12th
SKUSA SuperNationals — Mini Swift 18th
WSK Final Cup — 60 Mini Energy Corse 32nd
2017 WSK Champions Cup — 60 Mini ASD Giugliano Kart 22nd
WSK Super Master Series — 60 Mini 7th
IAME International Open — X30 Mini 1st
IAME Euro Series — X30 Mini 10th
Italian Championship — 60 Mini 2nd
IAME International Final — X30 Mini 15th
2018 Florida Winter Tour — Junior ROK 2nd
Challenge of the Americas — Junior ROK 1st
Italian Championship — ROK Junior 2nd
Italian Championship — X30 Junior 10th
2019 WSK Champions CupOKJ Ricky Flynn Motorsport 9th
WSK Super Master SeriesOKJ 17th
Coupe de France — OKJ 3rd
WSK Euro SeriesOKJ Ricky Flynn Motorsport 4th
Italian ChampionshipOKJ 5th
CIK-FIA European ChampionshipOKJ Ricky Flynn Motorsport 8th
CIK-FIA World ChampionshipOKJ 30th
WSK Open Cup — OKJ 4th
WSK Final CupOKJ 4th
2020 WSK Champions CupOKJ Ricky Flynn Motorsport 25th
South Garda Winter Cup — OKJ 32nd
WSK Super Master SeriesOKJ 5th
CIK-FIA European ChampionshipOKJ KR Motorsport 1st
WSK Euro SeriesOKJ Sauber Karting Team 9th
Champions of the Future — OKJ 2nd
CIK-FIA World ChampionshipOKJ 8th
WSK Open Cup — OKJ 33rd
2021 WSK Champions CupOK Sauber ORLEN Karting Team 6th
WSK Super Master SeriesOK 11th
WSK Euro SeriesOK KR Motorsport 2nd
CIK-FIA European ChampionshipOK 7th
WSK Open Cup — OK 7th
Champions of the Future — OK 13th
CIK-FIA World ChampionshipOK 4th
Sources:[31][32]

Complete CIK-FIA Karting European Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DC Points
2019 Ricky Flynn Motorsport OKJ ANG
QH
4
ANG
R
5
GEN
QH
45
GEN
R
DNQ
KRI
QH
35
KRI
R
DNQ
LEM
QH
7
LEM
R
3
8th 38
2020 KR Motorsport OKJ ZUE
QH
13
ZUE
R

2
1st 65
Sauber Karting Team SAR
QH
1
SAR
R

1
WAC
QH
1
WAC
R

(2)
2021 KR Motorsport OK GEN
QH
13
GEN
R
10
AUB
QH
7
AUB
R
7
SAR
QH
10
SAR
R
8
ZUE
QH
22
ZUE
R
35
7th 28

Racing record

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Racing career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2022 F4 British Championship Carlin 30 2 3 8 11 290 3rd
ADAC Formula 4 Championship Prema Racing 6 0 0 0 2 0 NC†
Italian F4 Championship 6 0 0 0 4 84 10th
2023 Formula 4 UAE Championship Prema Racing 15 5 2 4 8 185 3rd
Italian F4 Championship 21 3 3 4 13 280 2nd
Euro 4 Championship 9 3 1 2 5 193 1st
Macau Grand Prix Trident 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 15th
2024 Formula Regional Middle East Championship Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited 15 0 0 0 3 105 7th
Formula Regional European Championship Prema Racing 20 1 1 0 2 76 11th
GB3 Championship Rodin Motorsport 11 0 0 0 3 185 13th
Macau Grand Prix R-ace GP 1 1 1 0 1 N/A 1st
2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship Prema Racing
Sources:[33]

* Season still in progress. † Driver participated as a guest driver and was thus ineligible to score points.

Complete F4 British Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 DC Points
2022 Carlin DON
1

3
DON
2

91
DON
3

5
BHI
1

4
BHI
2

43
BHI
3

1
THR1
1

2
THR1
2

63
THR1
3

2
OUL
1

Ret
OUL
2

31
OUL
3

10
CRO
1

2
CRO
2

13†
CRO
3

13†
KNO
1

11
KNO
2

8
KNO
3

1
SNE
1

15
SNE
2

22
SNE
3

6
THR2
1

2
THR2
2

9
THR2
3

2
SIL
1

Ret
SIL
2

23
SIL
3

6
BHGP
1

4
BHGP
2

5
BHGP
3

6
3rd 290

Complete Italian F4 Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 DC Points
2022 Prema Racing IMO
1
IMO
2
IMO
3
MIS
1
MIS
2
MIS
3
SPA
1
SPA
2
SPA
3
VLL
1
VLL
2
VLL
3
RBR
1

3
RBR
2
RBR
3

2
RBR
4

3
MNZ
1
MNZ
2
MNZ
3
MUG
1

6
MUG
2

5
MUG
3

2
10th 84
2023 Prema Racing IMO
1
IMO
2

1
IMO
3

DNS
IMO
4

3
MIS
1

6
MIS
2

3
MIS
3

2
SPA
1

4
SPA
2

7
SPA
3

1
MNZ
1

25†
MNZ
2

2
MNZ
3

8
LEC
1

2
LEC
2

3
LEC
3

5
MUG
1

2
MUG
2

2
MUG
3

2
VLL
1

1
VLL
2

4
VLL
3

2
2nd 280
Sources:[34][35]

*Season still in progress. † Ugochukwu finished 1st on track, but received three post-race penalties - one ten-second penalty for dangerous driving, and two five-second penalties for overtaking off-track.[36]

Complete F4 UAE Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Pos Points
2023 Prema Racing DUB1
1

1
DUB1
2

1
DUB1
3

3
KMT1
1

3
KMT1
2

1
KMT1
3

18
KMT2
1

1
KMT2
2

4
KMT2
3

35†
DUB2
1

9
DUB2
2

Ret
DUB2
3

10
YMC
1

11
YMC
2

3
YMC
3

1
3rd 185

Complete Euro 4 Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 DC Points
2023 Prema Racing MUG
1

1
MUG
2

1
MUG
3

2
MNZ
1

4
MNZ
2

7
MNZ
3

21
CAT
1

4
CAT
2

2
CAT
3

1
1st 193

Complete Macau Grand Prix results

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Year Team Car Qualifying Quali Race Main race
2023   Trident Motorsport Dallara F3 2019 9th DNF 15th
2024   R-ace GP Tatuus F3 T318 1st 1st 1st

Complete Formula Regional Middle East Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 DC Points
2024 Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited YMC1
1

16
YMC1
2

11
YMC1
3

3
YMC2
1

10
YMC2
2

Ret
YMC2
3

7
DUB1
1

6
DUB1
2

4
DUB1
3

9
YMC3
1

6
YMC3
2

2
YMC3
3

Ret
DUB2
1

3
DUB2
2

4
DUB2
3

6
7th 105

Complete GB3 Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 DC Points
2024 Rodin Motorsport OUL
1

3
OUL
2

4
OUL
3

37
SIL1
1

6
SIL1
2

2
SIL1
3

C
SPA
1

4
SPA
2

4
SPA
3

Ret
HUN
1

HUN
2

HUN
3

ZAN
1

ZAN
2

ZAN
3

SIL2
1

8
SIL2
2

6
SIL2
3

21
DON
1

DON
2

DON
3

BRH
1

BRH
2

BRH
3

13th 185

* Season still in progress.

Complete Formula Regional European Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DC Points
2024 Prema Racing HOC
1

7
HOC
2

Ret
SPA
1

15
SPA
2

21
ZAN
1

28
ZAN
2

10
HUN
1

8
HUN
2

3
MUG
1

10
MUG
2

13
LEC
1

DSQ
LEC
2

DSQ
IMO
1

15
IMO
2

5
RBR
1

8
RBR
2

20
CAT
1

Ret
CAT
2

8
MNZ
1

1
MNZ
2

7
11th 76

Complete FIA Formula 3 Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DC Points
2025 Prema Racing BHR
SPR

BHR
FEA

MEL
SPR

MEL
FEA

IMO
SPR

IMO
FEA

MON
SPR

MON
FEA

CAT
SPR

CAT
FEA

RBR
SPR

RBR
FEA

SIL
SPR

SIL
FEA

SPA
SPR

SPA
FEA

HUN
SPR

HUN
FEA

MNZ
SPR

MNZ
FEA

TBD TBD

* Season still in progress.

References

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  1. ^ "#3 Ugo Ugochukwu | Driver | Prema Racing". www.premaracing.com. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  2. ^ "ROKiT F4 British Championship Certified by FIA 2022 | Championships | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  3. ^ a b c "McLaren Racing - McLaren Racing signs agreement with rising karting star Ugo Ugochukwu". www.mclaren.com. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  4. ^ a b "Ugo Ugochukwu :: ADD Management". www.addmanagement.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  5. ^ Waring, Bethonie (2022-08-22). "Podcast: Ugo Ugochukwu on British F4 and being a McLaren junior". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  6. ^ a b c d "Ugo Ugochukwu". www.mclaren.com. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  7. ^ a b Series, Feeder (2022-08-03). "Who is McLaren junior and American F1 hopeful Ugo Ugochukwu?". Feeder Series. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  8. ^ "About me - Ugo Ugochuckwu". 2023-01-04. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  9. ^ a b "McLaren sign teenage karting revelation Ugo Ugochukwu to support American youngster's career | News | McLaren | F1 | Sky Sports". www.skysports.com. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  10. ^ "McLaren's Ugo Ugochukwu to debut in British F4 with Carlin". Formula Scout. 2021-12-22. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  11. ^ mdr.de. "Nachwuchs auf der Piste in Oschersleben | MDR.DE". www.mdr.de (in German). Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  12. ^ "Ugo Ugochukwu joins Carlin for 2022 F4 British Championship - automobilsport.com". www.automobilsport.com. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. ^ Ugo Ugochukwu Donington Park British F4 pole position, 23 April 2022, retrieved 2022-05-01
  14. ^ a b c Waring, Bethonie (2022-12-07). "McLaren junior Ugochukwu makes full-time Italian F4 move with Prema". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  15. ^ Wood, Ida (2022-08-03). "McLaren junior Ugo Ugochukwu signed by Prema for ADAC F4 debut". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  16. ^ Wood, Ida (2023-02-19). "Wharton becomes F4 UAE champion after crash with title rival Taponen". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  17. ^ "Formula4 Italian Championship - Certified by FIA WSK Promotion Official Site- Ugo Ugochukwu wins Race 1 and keeps the title fight alive". www.f4championship.com. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  18. ^ Allen, Peter (2023-10-15). "Champion Sztuka takes dominant ninth win in Italian F4 finale". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  19. ^ Allen, Peter (2023-10-22). "Ugochukwu claims Euro 4 title after winning Barcelona decider". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  20. ^ Allen, Peter (2023-11-03). "Ugo Ugochukwu to make Formula Regional move with Prema". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  21. ^ "Ugo Ugochukwu claims his first victory in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine at Monza". Formula Regional European Championship. October 26, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  22. ^ Wood, Ida (2024-01-08). "Prema reveals it and Mumbai Falcons' line-ups for FRME and F4 UAE". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  23. ^ Wood, Ida (November 17, 2024). "Ugochukwu takes FRegional World Cup by winning the Macau GP". Formula Scout. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  24. ^ "Formula 3 action resumes at Barcelona post-season testing". FIAFormula3® - The Official F3® Website. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  25. ^ MotorSport, Trident. "Trident Motorsport parteciperà al Gran Premio di Macao". Trident Motorsport (in Italian). Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  26. ^ Wood, Ida (2023-10-24). "Stanek, 2019 winner Verschoor and Ugochukwu join Trident for Macau". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  27. ^ "Ugo Ugochukwu signs with PREMA Racing for the 2025 season". FIA_Formula 3® - The Official F3® Website. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  28. ^ "Saucy and Ugochukwu set for Rookie Test outing with NEOM McLaren". Formula E. May 3, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  29. ^ "Ugo Ugochukwu parents: Who be di parents behind di 13 year old McLaren signing | BBC News Pidgin". BBC News Pidgin (in Nigerian Pidgin). Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  30. ^ "13-Year-Old Ugo Ugochukwu Is America's Next Great F1 Hopeful". Autoweek. 2021-03-23. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  31. ^ "Ugo Ugochukwu | Racing career profile | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  32. ^ kartcom (2016-02-05). "Ugochukwu Ugo". Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  33. ^ "Ugo Ugochukwu | Career Overview". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  34. ^ "Calendario e risultati 2022 | Italian F.4 Championship | ACI Sport". www.acisport.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  35. ^ "Calendario e risultati 2023 | Italian F.4 Championship | ACI Sport". www.acisport.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  36. ^ "Arvid Lindblad vince gara 1 a Monza | Notizie | Italian F.4 Championship | ACI Sport". www.acisport.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2023-08-09.
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Sporting positions
Preceded by
Inaugural
Euro 4 Championship
Champion

2023
Succeeded by
Preceded by Macau Grand Prix
Winner

2024
Succeeded by
Incumbent