Barcelona offers new opportunities for success for Campos Racing drivers
The FIA Formula 3 season is now fully up to speed and, with the arrival of the European leg of the calendar, a decisive phase in the fight for the titles begins. Campos Racing heads into the first Spanish round of the 2026 campaign at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with the second scheduled for the season finale at Madring in mid-September. But before looking that far ahead, Ugo Ugochukwu, Théophile Naël and Ernesto Rivera face two more races in Barcelona with the objective of continuing to score valuable championship points.
Ugochukwu arrives in Spain as championship leader, having strengthened his position following the Monaco round. The American has accumulated 43 points, eight more than his closest rival. After taking victory in Melbourne’s Feature Race, Ugochukwu delivered an intelligent and calculated performance in the streets of Monaco just a few days ago. With a fourth-place finish, a sixth-place finish and the bonus point for fastest lap, he secured a highly valuable haul of points for the championship standings.
Naël has so far been the benchmark in qualifying, having claimed pole position in both Melbourne and Monaco. Following a difficult weekend in Australia and a Saturday race in Monaco in which an incident caused by another driver ruined his chances, the Frenchman bounced back superbly on Sunday. Naël ultimately secured second place after battling for victory right up until the chequered flag.
Rivera was one of the standout surprises on the streets of the Principality. Absent from the Albert Park round while still recovering from injury, the young Red Bull Junior Team talent made his FIA Formula 3 debut at what is arguably the most technically demanding circuit on the calendar and one where he had never raced before. The Mexican immediately impressed by qualifying inside the top five and later confirmed his potential in Sunday’s Feature Race, bringing his car home in fifth place and scoring his first championship points.
As previously mentioned, Campos Racing also enjoys a solid lead in the Teams’ Championship with a total of 75 points.
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, home of the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix since its inauguration in 1991, is a particularly demanding track from a physical standpoint due to its numerous medium- and high-speed corners. Furthermore, the lateral loads generated through those corners, combined with the abrasive nature of the asphalt, make tyre wear and degradation key factors to manage during the races. This will be especially important if temperatures reach the forecasted 30°C. Stable braking performance and strong traction will be essential characteristics for any car aiming to be competitive at Montmeló.
Free Practice is scheduled for Friday at 09:55, while Qualifying will take place later that afternoon at 15:00. The Sprint Race will be held on Saturday at 10:05, with Sunday’s Feature Race getting underway at 08:40. All times are CET.
Adrián Campos (Team Principal of Campos Racing): “We are very pleased with the performance we have shown at the start of the season, particularly as we currently lead both the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships. However, in FIA Formula 3, every small detail can make a significant difference and there is still a long way to go in the season. Ugo has demonstrated great maturity and consistency, Théophile has been exceptionally fast in qualifying and Ernesto left us with a fantastic impression in Monaco despite it was his first outing in the category. Barcelona is a circuit that everyone knows extremely well and where it will be crucial to maximize every session in order to continue scoring valuable points.”
