Ugo Ugochukwu seals Formula Regional Oceania title in dramatic Highlands finale

After four weeks of intense racing in New Zealand, Ugo Ugochukwu was crowned champion in last weekend’s New Zealand Grand Prix at Highlands Motorsport Park.

Ahead of his sophomore season in the FIA F3 Championship, Ugo joined M2 Competition to race in the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy in January as further preparation for his main campaign.

Starting the season at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park on the second weekend of January, Ugo qualified on pole and finished second in race one, before jumping to the points lead with two dominant wins on Sunday.

The strong momentum carried onto the following week’s round at Taupo International Motorsport Park, where Ugo extended his lead with two podiums and finishing fourth in the main race. Ugo then scored his third win of the season at Teretonga Park in treacherous conditions to head into the last round as the clear favorite for the title.

At the Highlands Motorsport Park finale, Ugo kicked off the weekend with a second-place finish in race one, followed by a dominant fourth win of the season in race two. Ugo’s strong pace carried onto the final two races of the season, in which he scored valuable points that enabled him to clinch the Formula Regional Oceania title with a ninth-place finish at the New Zealand Grand Prix, the last race of the season.

Header photo credit: Toyota New Zealand / Bruce Jenkins Photography