Ugo Ugochukwu
Ugochukwu driving at the Mugello Circuit during the 2023 Italian F4 Championship.
Nationality	American
Born	(2007-04-23) April 23, 2007 (age 17) New York City, United States
Formula Regional European Championship career
Debut season	2024
Current team	Prema Racing
Car number	3
Starts	2 (2 entries)
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Poles	0
Fastest laps	0
Best finish	TBD in 2024
Previous series
2023 2023 2022–2023 2022 2022	Euro 4 Championship Formula 4 UAE Championship Italian F4 ChampionshipF4 British Championship ADAC Formula 4
Championship titles
2023	Euro 4 Championship

Ugo Ugochukwu Orlandi (born April 23, 2007) is an American racing driver. He currently competes 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]

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

Career

Karting

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

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]

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

In 2024 Ugochukwu will remain with Prema Racing to compete in the Formula Regional European Championship.^[20]

FIA Formula 3

Ugochukwu took part in post-season testing of the 2023 FIA Formula 3 Championship with Rodin Carlin.^[21] He will also compete in the non-championship Macau Grand Prix with Trident.^[22][23]

Formula One

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

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.^[24]

Personal life

Ugochukwu is the son of Nigerian model Oluchi Onweagba and Italian fashion designer Luca Orlandi.^[7][25][26]

Karting record

Karting career summary

Complete CIK-FIA Karting European Championship results

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

Racing record

Racing career summary