UGO UGOCHUKWU

Formula 3 champion Ugo Ugochukwu

Over the weekend, the United States gained a new world champion! Nineteen year old Ugo Ugochukwu won the Formula 3 championship in Madrid Spain, and is now the first driver from the USA to win the title? What is Formula 3? Who is Ugo Ugochukwu? Glad you asked!

Formula 3 is part of the international driving competitions, that is lead by Formula 1 at the top. Yep, and Formula 2 racers are the next lower level, and Formula 3 is the third lower level. Believe it or not, there is also a Formula 4 series, and in fact there are many different Formula 4 racing car series around the world, since some countries sponsor their own version. This year Formula 3 raced at seven locations, typically with a Sprint race on Saturday of the weekend and the main race on Sunday. All the races were held as part of Formula 1 weekends, on the same tracks, so the fans attending these races usually have several races to watch during the days of a race weekend.

With the "minor league" Formula races below Formula 1, they try to hold down costs by requiring all cars to use the same body, which is built by Dallara. If you haven't heard of the Dallara company, they also build all the car bodies for Indy Cars! For more info, look up Mr. Dallara and read about his career too! Here's the link to Formula 3: 

FORMULA 3

As for the new champion, Ugo Ugochukwu is a nineteen year old driver from the US. He won two of the races this year, and took seven podiums (top three in a race) as well. This was Ugo's second season in F3, and in addition to winning the driver's championship, he led his team Campos Racing to winning the team title too. One challenge he faced was going into this last weekend in Madrid tied for the championship, and needing to have a good qualifying and races to win the title. That is exactly what he did by out-qualifying and finishing ahead of the 2nd place driver Freddie Slater in all three races. 

It's still too early to know what is next for Ugochukwu, but most likely he will move up to Formula 2 in 2027, and just maybe in the future we will have another American driver in Formula 1. Also of note, Ugo is tall, about 6 foot 4 inches tall, which is unusual for a race car driver!

Here is a short interview with Ugo after he won the F3 championship:

UGO ON F3.COM

Gastonia Cars and Coffee

This Camaro will get your attention!

In my search for new Cars and Coffee events, I drove up the road to Gastonia NC, and found a lot of folks at the mall. Well, in the parking lot of a mall, hanging out, checking out the cars, and enjoying a Saturday morning. Some of these events tend to have more 50s and 60s classics, like in York SC, but this was definitely the younger crowd, with tons of Hondas, Mustangs, Japanese market right hand drive cars, and lots more. Whatever your taste in automobiles may be, I'm pretty sure you're always welcome at any event. 

Hey, fun trivia, Gastonia NC is the home of Wix filters, ever since they started back in 1939 by Mr. Wicks! Now you know. 

McLaren 720S

Mercedes C63s AMG interior. It looks mighty comfy in there!

Nissan GTR

On top of those cars, there were a few more exotic cars, like a McLaren, a few Audi R8s, I think three or four Japanese market Nissan Skyline GTRs, and even a Dodge Viper. Here's a look around. 

Nissan GTR, AKA "Godzilla"

Audi R8

Right hand drive Nissan Silvia!

Nissan Silvia, probably Japanese or Australian version.

Mustangs

Dodge Viper

Dodge Viper, what a classic logo!

Flames

Matthews NC Cars and Coffee

Packard automobiles started out in Ohio, just like NMS!

You will not BELIEVE it, but on a recent weekend, I visited a Cars and Coffee! This is a monthly event up in Matthews NC, which is part of Charlotte. This gathering seemed to be mostly older classics, so take a look!

1957 Corvette

1951 Ford F-1 pickup. I really liked the lunchbox, and used one just like it when I worked for Nixon Builders. The curved top holds your thermos!

Camaro RS

I'm sorry I don't know my 1930s era cars, but this thing just looked cool!

Another classic from Ohio, a Ford 351 Cleveland engine.

57 Corvette interior. I hope you like RED!

Another nice hot rod with FLAMES!

Let's go with "Ford V8" on this one!

Just another Sunday afternoon in Matthews NC!

Pontiac. We build excitement!