Ugo Ugochukwu, son of US-based Nigerian model Oluchi Onweagba, has won the 2024 FIA FR World Cup and the 71st Macau Grand Prix.
He won with a faultless performance throughout the entire weekend, becoming the first driver from the US to win the event since Bob Earl in 1981.
Ugochukwu led from start to finish for R-ace GP ahead of Olivier Goethe for MP Motorsport and Noel León for KCMG IXO by Pinnacle Motorsport in a race that saw multiple safety car interventions.
Since Thursday, unpredictable weather has dominated proceedings in Macau, and the last remnants of unusual heavy rain still managed to have an impact on the start of the race, as damp patches on the grid meant that, to ensure sporting equity, race control elected to start the contest with a lap behind the safety car.
At the end of that first lap, polesitter Ugochukwu nailed his getaway just as he had done in Saturday’s qualifying race, pulling a gap to second-placed Goethe and ensuring that the German driver had no opportunity to make a pass.
Ugochukwu will carry great confidence into his 2025 FIA Formula 3 campaign following an outstanding performance in Macau. The American dominated the weekend by topping every session and maintained remarkable composure amidst the chaos, avoiding mistakes while others faltered and crashed into the barriers.
Speaking on his victory, the 17-year-old said: “I can’t describe the feeling, of course I’m super happy. It was quite a tricky race, I was pushing the whole way, but I was confident in the pace – ever since Q2 we’ve been really quick, of course we won the Quali race as well, but there was still one more thing to do which was win the main race, and we managed to do it. I can’t thank the R-ace GP team enough – we had a great weekend and yeah, super happy to finally get the job done.”
Last year, Ugochukwu became the first champion of the new Euro 4 Championship.
Celebrating her son’s latest feat, Onweagba wrote on social media on Sunday, “My Daddy, my Daddy thank you soooo much for showing up and showing out for my young king @ugougochukwu. You totally broke ALL protocols for him. I’m grateful.
“My boy is MacauGP 2024 World Cup CHAMPION!!! What a time to alive!!!!”
Onweagba, 44, has two sons with her Italian fashion designer husband Luca Orlandi.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
