Il pilots market of the propaedeutic category has just started and the announcements of the teams can arrive at any moment. Today the press release of the Vicenza team arrived Prema, which signed the pilot Ugo Ugochukwu for the next F3 season.
From karting to debut in single-seaters
Ugo Ugochukwu Orlandi, born in 2007, began his career on karts in the United States. In 2014 wins the Micro ROK Cup USA, while the following year he won first place in the Florida Winter Tour. The winning streak continues, Ugo in fact wins the X30 Mini of the IAME International Open in 2017 and in 2018 the Junior ROK category of the Challenge of the Americas. The American driver conquers his last karting title in 2020, winning the FIA OK-Junior European Karting Championship.
His debut on board single-seaters takes place in 2021, when Ugochukwu took part in a testing programme with Motorpark. Ugo – in the same period – signed a contract long-term with McLaren, thus becoming part of his Driver Development program. In 2022 he turns 15, thus being able to participate in the English F4 Championship with Carlin. Taking home two wins in his rookie season, Ugo gets the third place in the championship and became champion of the Rookie Cup. In August of the same year the young driver started driving the team's single-seaters Prema for a few rounds of the Italian F4 and ADAC.
Ugochukwu stays with Prema for the following year, enrolling in the F4 UEA and the Italian one. With 5 victories under his belt, Ugo placed third in United Arab Emirates Championship, while in that Italian becomes vice-champion after an intense title fight with Sztuka – which lasted until the final round in Vallelunga.
Ugo Ugochukwu with Prema in F3 from 2025
In 2024 Ugochukwu extends his contract with the Italian team, with which he participates in the championship Regional formula, reaching the podium several times. The performances of the McLaren driver have convinced Prema to secure him a seat in Formula 3 for the 2025 season.
It won't be the first time that the Prema driver will drive a single-seater F3 since he has already taken to the track on the occasion of the post-season test with Rodin in 2023. "I am very pleased to announce that I will be competing with Prema in the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship.,” Ugochukwu said. He continued, “Working with all these people is special, the chemistry is excellent, which makes working on and off the track enjoyable. We have had two positive seasons together and I can't wait to continue".
Ugochukwu is the first driver of the Formula 3 line up that the Grisignano di Zocco team announces. Rene Rosin, Team Principal added: “We have enjoyed working with Ugo over the last two years, we think it has potential. We are convinced that it is the right choice for next year in terms of approach and driving style. We will soon start the preparation to ensure that he has a smooth and successful transition into the new category.".
