SUCCESSFUL FINAL ROUND FOR UGOCHUKWU IN DUBAI
After an incredibly challenging series of races held at two of the most famous circuits in the world, the Formula Regional Middle East Championship has officially come to an end. The fifth round was indeed one to assist to, with many contenders of the title chasing every available point to gain an advantage and climb higher in the overall rankings.
After a valid campaign, which saw him going full out and put in his best efforts in every round, Mumbai Falcon’s Ugo Ugochukwu closed the weekend, and finally the championship, in sixth position, with a total of 105 points. The rising talent described his step up from Formula 4 machinery, to the more powerful single seaters of the Formula Regional Championship as “a big one”, and did not forget to mention the ultimate objective being “to make the transition as smooth as possible”.
“It’s been going quite well, there have been ups and downs, but ultimately throughout the whole championship we’ve been constantly improving, which is good”, says the 16-year-old.
Starting the last racing weekend in Dubai with a strong P3 in the first session of qualifying, the McLaren junior driver was determined to make of his first experience in the Formula Regional machinery one to remember and learn valuable lessons to eventually carry over in the European Championship, in which he will be competing in the upcoming months. The quick pace shown in the first session reflected equally in the second session, earning the American driver another P3 and a P8 start for Race 2 on Saturday.
The first race of the weekend was a relatively composed one for the front pack, with Ugo defending brilliantly a well-deserved third position from start to end, stepping on the podium at the end of the day, beside Zachary David and Tukka Taponen.
The second race of the season, characterized by the reverse-grid order, saw a determined Ugochukwu engaged on a fierce, but always respectful battle, with his former teammates in the Italian F4 Championship, Taponen and Wharton for sixth position. As a few of the drivers leading the race started experiencing troubles, the Papaya junior took his chance on an overtake on the Finnish driver, completing it brilliantly, taking home a brilliant P5 finish.
With only one race left to complete his journey in one of the most competitive championships within junior categories of motorsports, Ugochukwu was determined to put on his best efforts to climb his way back up from a P8 start. With two well-placed overtakes on Boya and Bruno del Pino, the American earned a P6 finish, securing a P6 overall in the championship as well.
“The pace has been getting better and better each weekend, I’ve been growing to be more comfortable with car”, said the 2022 F4 British Rookie Champion before praising the Woking based Formula 1 team which has been backing him since 2021, “giving him the motivation to do the best job he could”.
We will see Ugo Ugochukwu continue his chase of a future Formula 1 seat very soon, as he joins team Prema Racing for the 2024 Formula Regional Championship for the upcoming season.
Make sure to check out the most thrilling moments of the championship on YouTube, and keep following this young talent’s rise to success.
