Ugochukwu claims Euro 4 title after winning Barcelona decider

Photo: ACI Sport

Ugo Ugochukwu has claimed his first car racing title, taking the inaugural Euro 4 championship crown after winning the final race at Barcelona.

The McLaren junior came into the deciding race just two points behind Prema team-mate James Wharton at the top of the standings, and would start from pole position courtesy of setting the best second-fastest time in qualifying.

Brando Badoer started alongside Ugochukwu on the front row, with Arvid Lindblad and Tuukka Taponen sharing row two and Wharton starting back in fifth.

Ugochukwu kept the lead ahead of Badoer at the start, while both Taponen and Wharton got ahead of Lindblad.

Red Bull junior Lindblad’s start was placed under investigation, but he got back ahead of Wharton into Turn 10 on lap three.

Ugochukwu spent the whole race under pressure from fellow McLaren-contracted driver Badoer as both pulled away from the drivers behind. Ugochukwu could have afforded to concede the lead to Badoer but remained ahead, despite locking up late on, before Badoer went very wide in Turn 9 for the penultimate time and did well to keep facing the right way.

Lindblad had several attempts to get past Taponen in the second half of the race but could not find a way by.

Wharton just held off Zachary David to finish fifth, with Nicola Lacorte and Freddie Slater following.

Akshay Bohra, who won the first race of the weekend and led the points after race two before receiving penalty, lost out on the first lap and finished ninth.

Race result (19 laps)