2025 F3 Post-Season Test | Jerez | Campos Racing’s Ugochukwu and Rivera shine on Day 2

Campos Racing showed its authority on Day 2 of the 2025 FIA F3 post-season test at Circuito de Jerez, with Ugo Ugochukwu and Ernesto Rivera topping the morning and afternoon sessions respectively. The duo delivered an impressive one-two punch that firmly placed Campos among the standout teams of the day.

While MP Motorsport dominated Day 1 through Alessandro Giusti and Tuukka Taponen, Day 2 told a different story. Ugochukwu’s morning lap of 1:30.012 stood as the fastest of the entire test, while Rivera followed it up with the best time of the afternoon, cementing Campos’ control.

Morning Session: Ugochukwu sets the pace with blistering lap

The final day began at full speed as teams focused heavily on qualifying simulations. Freddie Slater opened the session with a 1:31.782, but the timing screens lit up quickly. James Wharton, Matteo de Palo, and Ugochukwu all briefly held P1 in quick succession.

Ernesto Rivera also joined the fray with a strong 1:31.294, before Bruno del Pino went even faster for Van Amersfoort Racing. However, Christian Ho raised the bar with a 1:30.437, looking set to lead — until Ugochukwu delivered a sensational 1:30.012.

That lap would not be challenged for the rest of the morning. Although Slater improved, he remained over three-tenths down. A red flag brought out by Rivera momentarily paused the session, but the Mexican recovered to climb back to second.

With teams shifting to long-run simulations in the final hour, there were no further changes atop the timing screens. Two more red flags — from Gerrard Xie and Jin Nakamura — disrupted the final 30 minutes, but nothing could stop Ugochukwu from finishing as the morning’s fastest driver.

Morning Session Standings

1. Ugo Ugochukwu – Campos Racing – 1:30.012 – 28 laps
2. Ernesto Rivera – Campos Racing – 1:30.209 – 34 laps
3. Freddie Slater – Trident – 1:30.315 – 26 laps
4. Christian Ho – Rodin Motorsport – 1:30.417 – 27 laps
5. Noah Strømsted – Trident – 1:30.501 – 28 laps
6. Alessandro Giusti – MP Motorsport – 1:30.560 – 30 laps
7. James Wharton – PREMA Racing – 1:30.562 – 34 laps
8. Taito Kato – ART Grand Prix – 1:30.586 – 37 laps
9. Brando Badoer – Rodin Motorsport – 1:30.586 – 27 laps
10. Brad Benavides – AIX Racing – 1:30.644 – 30 laps
11. Enzo Deligny – PREMA Racing – 1:30.678 – 36 laps
12. Bruno del Pino – Van Amersfoort Racing – 1:30.722 – 36 laps
13. Mattia Colnaghi – MP Motorsport – 1:30.726 – 28 laps
14. Pedro Clerot – Rodin Motorsport – 1:30.740 – 27 laps
15. Matteo de Palo – Trident – 1:30.752 – 33 laps
16. Louis Sharp – PREMA Racing – 1:30.766 – 34 laps
17. Jin Nakamura – Hitech TGR – 1:30.782 – 41 laps
18. Michael Shin – Hitech TGR – 1:30.794 – 38 laps
19. Yevan David – AIX Racing – 1:30.826 – 25 laps
20. Gerrard Xie – DAMS Lucas Oil – 1:30.850 – 34 laps
21. Jesse Carrasquedo – Van Amersfoort Racing – 1:30.865 – 38 laps
22. Théophile Nael – Campos Racing – 1:30.873 – 26 laps
23. Maciej Gladysz – ART Grand Prix – 1:30.915 – 42 laps
24. Nicola Lacorte – DAMS Lucas Oil – 1:30.959 – 26 laps
25. Tuukka Taponen – MP Motorsport – 1:30.965 – 16 laps
26. Fionn McLaughlin – Hitech TGR – 1:31.088 – 39 laps
27. Kanato Le – ART Grand Prix – 1:31.166 – 48 laps
28. Hiyu Yamakoshi – Van Amersfoort Racing – 1:31.260 – 39 laps
29. Fernando Barrichello – AIX Racing – 1:31.268 – 23 laps
30. Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi – DAMS Lucas Oil – 1:31.345 – 27 laps

Afternoon Session: Rivera leads as Campos Racing dominance continues

The afternoon began in similar fashion, with Ugochukwu continuing his form by going fastest straight out of the gate with a 1:30.890. However, Rivera fired back with a 1:30.605 to take top spot — a time that would remain unbeaten through to the chequered flag.

As conditions stabilised, most teams shifted attention to longer runs. Yet Hitech TGR remained quick over both short and extended stints. Jin Nakamura, Michael Shin, and Fionn McLaughlin filled the next three spots behind the Campos duo, showcasing the team’s strength in depth.

A red flag stopped the session midway when Kanato Le pulled over at Turn 9. Once resumed, a handful of drivers improved their times, but none were able to disrupt the top five.

Afternoon Session Standings

1. Ernesto Rivera – Campos Racing – 1:30.605 – 44 laps
2. Ugo Ugochukwu – Campos Racing – 1:30.890 – 46 laps
3. Jin Nakamura – Hitech TGR – 1:31.253 – 48 laps
4. Michael Shin – Hitech TGR – 1:31.597 – 50 laps
5. Fionn McLaughlin – Hitech TGR – 1:31.761 – 48 laps
6. Théophile Nael – Campos Racing – 1:32.003 – 40 laps
7. Tuukka Taponen – MP Motorsport – 1:32.115 – 31 laps
8. Brad Benavides – AIX Racing – 1:32.340 – 51 laps
9. Noah Strømsted – Trident – 1:32.361 – 29 laps
10. Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi – DAMS Lucas Oil – 1:32.479 – 25 laps
11. Gerrard Xie – DAMS Lucas Oil – 1:32.546 – 25 laps
12. Taito Kato – ART Grand Prix – 1:32.811 – 39 laps
13. Nicola Lacorte – DAMS Lucas Oil – 1:33.078 – 23 laps
14. Yevan David – AIX Racing – 1:33.505 – 41 laps
15. Hiyu Yamakoshi – Van Amersfoort Racing – 1:33.544 – 50 laps
16. Matteo de Palo – Trident – 1:33.666 – 41 laps
17. Freddie Slater – Trident – 1:33.674 – 49 laps
18. Christian Ho – Rodin Motorsport – 1:33.692 – 347 laps
19. Jesse Carrasquedo – Van Amersfoort Racing – 1:33.695 – 53 laps
20. James Wharton – PREMA Racing – 1:33.726 – 50 laps
21. Bruno del Pino – Van Amersfoort Racing – 1:33.782 – 57 laps
22. Louis Sharp – PREMA Racing – 1:33.830 – 50 laps
23. Brando Badoer – Rodin Motorsport – 1:33.851 – 49 laps
24. Alessandro Giusti – MP Motorsport – 1:33.874 – 48 laps
25. Pedro Clerot – Rodin Motorsport – 1:33.958 – 49 laps
26. Maciej Gladysz – ART Grand Prix – 1:34.008 – 33 laps
27. Mattia Colnaghi – MP Motorsport – 1:34.192 – 49 laps
28. Fernando Barrichello – AIX Racing – 1:34.369 – 38 laps
29. Enzo Deligny – PREMA Racing – 1:34.400 – 47 laps
30. Kanato Le – ART Grand Prix – 1:34.587 – 32 laps

Campos Racing steal the spotlight as Barcelona awaits

Day 2 at Jerez concluded with Campos Racing firmly in control. Ugochukwu’s rapid morning lap and Rivera’s dominant afternoon run demonstrated the team’s one-lap and long-run pace alike. After MP Motorsport had starred on Day 1, the shift in momentum suggests a highly competitive field heading into the 2026 F3 season.

Notably, Hitech TGR impressed with all three of their drivers inside the top five in the afternoon session, while several rookies used the day to gain crucial mileage. Van Amersfoort Racing’s Hiyu Yamakoshi completed the most laps over the two days, clocking an impressive 157.

All eyes now turn to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where the second and final post-season test will take place from 15–16 October. With driver line-ups becoming more settled and form beginning to emerge, the countdown to 2026 continues.