Formula 3: 2026 Team Preview – Campos Racing

Campos Racing is a Spanish motorsport team based in Alzira, Valencia, founded in 1997 by former Formula 1 driver Adrián Campos. Renamed several times over the years, the outfit has become a long-standing presence in junior single-seater racing, competing successfully in Formula 3, GP2/Formula 2 and the Spanish Formula 4 Championship.

Campos quickly built a reputation as a talent incubator. The team won the Open Fortuna by Nissan title in 1998 with Marc Gené, before repeating the feat in 1999 with a young Fernando Alonso. Antonio García led Campos to a third consecutive teams’ crown in 2000, cementing its status as one of Europe’s leading junior outfits. Many future Formula 1 and top-level drivers passed through the team, including Sergio Pérez, Lucas di Grassi, Vitaly Petrov, Lando Norris, Alexander Rossi, Álex Palou and Isack Hadjar.

Competing as Campos Grand Prix, the team became a GP2 frontrunner, finishing third in the championships in 2007 before winning the Teams’ title in 2008 with Lucas di Grassi. It also claimed back-to-back Spanish F3 titles in 2008 and 2009.

Campos briefly stepped onto the Formula 1 stage after securing an entry for the 2010 season, though financial difficulties led to the project becoming Hispania Racing. The team returned to GP2 in 2014 and has remained a fixture in Formula 2 and Formula 3 ever since, fielding drivers such as Rio Haryanto, Mitch Evans, Jack Aitken, Luca Ghiotto and Roy Nissany.

Following the death of founder Adrián Campos in January 2021, leadership passed to his son, Adrián Campos Jr. Under his guidance, Campos Racing continues to play a key role in developing the next generation of single-seater talent on the international stage.

2026 Driver Line-up Announced

Campos Racing will go into 2026 with a completely new driver line-up. With Théophile Nael, Ugo Ugochukwu and Ernesto Rivera joining the team in the hope of regaining the Championship.

Théophile Nael

After a highly successful karting career in France, Théophile Nael stepped into single-seater racing in 2022 with the Spanish F4 Championship. His progression was rapid, culminating in a dominant title-winning campaign in 2023. Nael moved up to the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine in 2024, finishing ninth overall while gaining valuable experience at a higher level.

The Frenchman continued his climb in 2025 by joining FIA Formula 3 with Van Amersfoort Racing. He impressed with three podium finishes, secured eighth place in the championship standings, and capped off the season with a standout victory at the Macau Grand Prix. Nael will return to FIA Formula 3 in 2026, switching to Campos Racing for his second season in the category.

Racing Record

2025
• Macau Grand Prix (FIA FR World Cup) – 1st
• FIA Formula 3 Championship (Van Amersfoort Racing) – 8th
• Formula Regional Middle East Championship – 7th

2024
• Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine – 9th
• Formula Regional Middle East Championship – 11th

2023
• F4 Spanish Championship – Champion
• Formula 4 UAE Championship – 11th

2022
• F4 Spanish Championship – 19th

2014–21
• Karting

Ugo Ugochukwu

Ugo Ugochukwu arrived in single-seaters with a formidable karting résumé, highlighted by multiple titles including the CIK-FIA OKJ European Championship. The American made an immediate impact in 2022, finishing third in British F4, before stepping up to Italian F4 in 2023 where he claimed second overall and the Euro 4 Championship.

In 2024, Ugochukwu gained experience across multiple categories, contesting Formula Regional championships in the Middle East and Europe, finishing seventh and 11th respectively. He rounded off the season in style by winning the Macau Grand Prix. His FIA Formula 3 debut followed in 2025 with PREMA Racing, where he secured two podiums and ended the year 16th in the standings. He will return for a second F3 campaign in 2026 with Campos Racing.

Racing Record

2025
• FIA Formula 3 Championship (PREMA Racing) – 16th
• Formula Regional Middle East Championship – 3rd
• McLaren Driver Development Programme Member

2024
• Macau Grand Prix (FIA FR World Cup) – 1st
• GB3 Championship – 13th
• Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine – 11th
• Formula Regional Middle East Championship – 7th
• McLaren Driver Development Programme Member

2023
• Euro 4 Championship – Champion
• Italian F4 Championship – 2nd
• Formula 4 UAE Championship – 3rd

2022
• British F4 Championship – 3rd
• Italian F4 Championship – 10th

2015–21
• Karting

Ernesto Rivera

Following a trophy-filled karting career, Ernesto Rivera stepped up to single-seater racing in 2024 and quickly showed his potential. Competing in Spanish F4, he claimed a race win and finished fifth in the championship standings.

The Mexican driver took another step forward in 2025 with Campos Racing in Eurocup-3, scoring seven podiums including three victories to finish fourth overall. A member of the Red Bull Junior Team, Rivera will continue his progression with Campos in 2026, making the step up to FIA Formula 3.

Racing Record

2025
• Eurocup-3 – 4th
• Eurocup-3 Spanish Winter Championship
• Formula Regional Middle East Championship – 9th
• Red Bull Junior Team Driver

2024
• F4 Spanish Championship – 5th
• F4 British Championship – 22nd
• Formula Winter Series – 15th
• Red Bull Junior Team Driver

2021–23
• Karting

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