13-Year-Old Nigerian-American Karter, Ugo Ugochukwu Signed By British Racing Giant, McLaren

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13-Year-Old Nigerian-American Karter, Ugo Ugochukwu Signed By British Racing Giant, McLarenBritish motor racing giants, McLaren Racing, has signed a 13-year-old Nigerian-American kart racer, Ugo Ugochukwu, on a long-term agreement to support him through racing’s junior categories.

The Formula 1 team said the agreement gives them an option to sign Ugochukwu to a race deal in the future.

Ugochukwu, whose mother is Nigerian and father American, has already competed in both the United States and Europe and is currently in OK Senior class of karting.

Speaking on the deal, McLaren Racing chief executive officer Zak Brown stated;

We’ve been watching Ugo’s progress with interest. So when the opportunity to sign an agreement with him became available, we had no hesitation moving on it.

The move gives McLaren what they describe as a multi-year contract with Ugochukwu, within which there is an option they can choose to take up which would tie him to a further multi-year racing deal. This could be in F1 or in other categories.

McLaren, like many F1 teams, have had a young driver programme for many years. Their most high-profile graduate is Lewis Hamilton, who was also signed by the team when he was 13, and who remains so far F1’s only black driver.

Ugochukwu
, who was born in New York and whose mother is Nigerian, won last year’s FIA OK Junior European championship, and has graduated to the senior class this season.

Formula 1 has not had an American driver since Alexander Rossi took part in five races for the Marussia team in 2015.

The last American to win a Grand Prix was 1978 world champion Mario Andretti – at that year’s Dutch Grand Prix.

Speaking on the new deal, the 13-year-old said;

I’m honoured to be signed by such an iconic team as McLaren Racing so early in my career.

To have the support of McLaren is fantastic and what any young driver dreams of. I’m focused right now on developing as a driver and racer, so having McLaren by my side can only help me on and off the track.

In his remarks, McLaren F1 team principal Andreas Seidl expressed;
Ugo is a promising young talent with strong development prospects. While he is still early in his career, it is clear he has the ingredients to be successful in the sport. This signing reflects our refocused approach to identifying and supporting new talent, away from a formal young driver programme to a more tailored basis. 

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