PREMA Racing delivers two wins, podium lockout at Monza
PREMA Racing signed off the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine with a double win at Monza. The team delivered stunning results at the Italian venue to cap off an extremely successful year and was even able to lock out the full podium in Race 1 despite the changing conditions.
Starting from pole after Qualifying was canceled due to rain, and CT2 lap times were used, Ugo Ugochukwu put up a masterful run to secure his maiden FRECA win, leading from start to finish. The McLaren Driver Development programme American then finished 7th in a red-flagged Race 2.
After sealing the title early in Barcelona, Brazilian Rafael Camara took another win, his seventh of the year, in Race 2 on Sunday. The Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy racer made two outside passes in lap 1 to take P1, never looking back again.
James Wharton secured second place in the Driver Championship with another brilliant display. The Australian took two third-place finishes and continued his outstanding run of late, which included seven podiums and three wins in the last eight races.
As the 2024 FRECA season comes to a close, the team's Formula Regional operation is looking forward to its last challenge of the year, the FIA FR World Cup at the Macau Grand Prix.
#3 Ugo Ugochukwu
"I'm very happy for my first FRECA win. We were the quickest in the practice sessions so I managed to start at the front in the first race. The pace on the wet was great so I just pulled away and managed the race. Starting from P4 in Race 2, I got up one spot, but I had to avoid contact and lost a couple of positions. It was a positive weekend and I'm happy to have finished the season well. Thanks to PREMA for the whole year!"
#5 Rafael Camara
"It was great to finish the year with a win. The first lap of Race 2 was really good and after that, we kept the gap and managed two good restarts. I'm extremely happy about this championship, it was a mega season. Working with such great professionals made it very special. Every race was special and I'm happy to celebrate with everyone."
#13 James Wharton
"This weekend has been good with two podium finishes and overall I'm really happy with being the vice-champion. That's the main thing to take away. I can't thank the team enough as we really had a strong comeback and an amazing end of the year!"