The NEOM McLaren Formula E Team today announces that Ugo Ugochukwu and Grégoire Saucy will drive for the team at the official rookie test of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship at Berlin’s Tempelhof Street Circuit on 13 May.

Ugo, from New York City, US, has had an impressive junior career to date and is currently a member of the McLaren Driver Development programme, having initially signed with the team in 2021. In his short career, he’s already sealed the FIA OK-Junior European Karting Championship title, amongst other karting achievements. Moving up to single-seaters, Ugo’s success followed, finishing his rookie season third overall and winning the Rookie Trophy, and finishing his second season as Italian Formula 4 Vice Champion and Euro 4 Champion, with a total of 11 wins and 44 podiums to his name.

This season, Ugo is competing in the Formula Regional European Championship and at selected rounds of the GB3 Championship, whilst continuing his progression with the McLaren Driver Development programme, where he will be supported in his journey from junior motorsport to professional racing driver. His role in the Driver Development programme has allowed Ugo to spend time in the Formula E simulator at the McLaren Technology Centre. Now, he will have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a physical Gen3 Formula E car for the first time, with the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team.

Grégoire Saucy, from Switzerland, began racing on his family kart track at three years old and quickly established himself as a natural talent, becoming the youngest licensed competitor at just seven years old. His early career saw him regularly on the podium throughout karting championships and in 2015 he progressed to single-seaters, claiming his first title in the Formula Regional Championship in 2021. Grégoire is currently competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship with United Autosports, in partnership with McLaren Motorsport. It will be his first time driving a Gen3 Formula E car later this month with the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team.

Ugo Ugochukwu said:

“I’m looking forward to the Berlin Rookie Test in May with the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team. It’s an amazing opportunity to take the Nissan e-4ORCE 04 to track and I’m grateful to be given this chance through the McLaren Driver Development programme. I'm excited to learn and develop my driving further with a new category of car. I'll be working closely with the great team at Bicester and MTC in the build-up, getting prepared for the test and making sure I'm as prepared as possible to help the team.”

Grégoire Saucy said:

“I’m really excited to start this new challenge. It will be my first time in a Formula E car. I’ve been driving single-seater cars up until last year, before changing direction for this season, competing in GT3 and LMP2, so it will be nice to step into a single-seater again. I want to thank the NEOM McLaren team for this opportunity. I’m looking forward to discovering Formula E first hand. See you in Berlin.”

Ian James, Team Principal, NEOM McLaren Formula E Team & Managing Director, NEOM McLaren Electric Racing, said:

“It’s great to see that Formula E is continuing to provide opportunities for talented drivers to show what they are capable of, by hosting another official rookie test this season. It is also a good way for us as teams to evaluate these drivers in the current Gen3 machinery.

“I’m especially excited about our line-up for this test; both Ugo and Grégoire have stood out in the categories they’ve competed in to date. I look forward to seeing them hit the track in Berlin.”