Ugo Ugochukwu, who competed in GB3 two years ago, was crowned as the latest FIA Formula 3 champion at the Madring last weekend.
The American driver, who scored three podiums with Rodin in GB3, went into the weekend in Spain behind fellow GB3 alumni Freddie Slater. However a disastrous qualifying for the British driver compromised the remainder of his weekend, which featured three races.
Ugochukwu meanwhile qualified fourth and second for the two 'main' races, a long way ahead of Slater who was only 17th and eighth.
On a track where overtaking was at a premium, that gave Ugochukwu a clear upper hand. Having entered the final weekend of the year 15 points adrift, he gained ground in Saturday morning's sprint race to score two points, as Slater toiled to a point-less 18th.
In the first Feature Race of the event on Saturday afternoon, the momentum swung Ugochukwu's way again. The American claimed fourth place while Slater spun into retirement, the result leaving the pair equal on points heading into Sunday's second Feature Race.
Having started second for the final race of the season, Ugochukwu simply finished there, and with Slater only able to take eighth place, the title went the way of the American driver, who became the first contender from the USA to win the FIA F3 title.
"For sure, I was not expecting to come into the final race equal on points, but it made it very exciting" he said afterwards. "I think we did a good job all weekend. We put ourselves in a good position after qualifying and in the races, so today was just about executing and doing our job properly. P2 was not a bad result. I was just trying to manage my tyres. We knew that was what I needed to win the championship, so it was just about getting it home.
"It is super special. The whole team is very happy with this. Our goal at the beginning of the year was to fight for the championship, and that is what we have done. We managed to come out on top, so I cannot thank each and every one of them enough for all their hard work. We have worked well together since before the season started, and I think that really paid off. Starting the championship well is always important, and we finished the season well this weekend too. I am really happy to clinch this first title for Campos."