UGO UGOCHUKWU IS THE 2023 EURO 4 CHAMPION
Just a week after being crowned 2023 F4 Italian Vice-Champion title, Ugo Ugochukwu takes over the last round of the 2023 Euro 4 Championship, climbing up the rankings and securing the championship’s title after a brilliant season on track.
The final round was run on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, counting three different race winners and some great battles on track, making of the season’s finale one of the most exciting races of the season.
Ugochukwu arrived in Barcelona determined to make of the last weekend one to remember, and his lap times in the two Free Practice sessions were good proof of it. The American went out to conquer the 5th fastest time on track, just behind (at the time) championship leader Lindblad, setting the pace for the upcoming races.
The first qualifying session saw the 16-year-old go out determined to prove he was out there to leave a mark and to contend for the crown; a solid P4 overall in the first session was surely a good way to do it. An even better result in the second session boosted the young American’s confidence, as he took home the third fastest time of the day.
The positive momentum led the McLaren junior to a solid start in Race 1, despite launching right in the middle of a fierce battle for the Top 5 positions, which led him to climb up to P3. Unfortunately the Prema driver in car number 3 lost eventually grasp of a very dynamic leading pack, and finished the race in P5.
Determined to go out and claim his place in the top ranks, Ugo started Race 3 from a solid P3 and was not afraid to put his elbows out to defend his position. Despite having teammates Tukka Taponen and Arvid Lindblad making him earn his podium position, the newly graduated Italian F4 Vice-Champion managed to keep a cool head and place one of his best overtakes so far on the flying Finn, whom he was putting up against for position 3. A brilliant podium finish put Ugo closer to the top of the overall rankings, with the final race of the weekend still to come.
A pole position start in Race 3 set the ground for a championship-winning performance. Since the first lap of the race, the New Yorker was chased by a hard-charging Brando Badoer, who did not leave his tail the whole 30 minutes. Despite the pressure Badoer exerted on him, Ugochukwu was able to keep the lead all the way to the finish line, and gather enough points to steal the lead of the championship from teammate James Wharton, winner of the previous race.
Another great achievement for one of the most promising stars in the junior series of motorsports, whose future looks as bright as ever.
Dive right back into this weekend’s action, and check out the Euro 4 Championship’s YouTube Channel!
