MADRID, Sept ⁠13 (Reuters) - Former McLaren junior driver Ugo ⁠Ugochukwu became the first FIA ‌Formula Three champion from the United States at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday.

The tall ​19-year-old finished second in ⁠the final round ⁠of the season for Campos Racing at ⁠the ‌Madring to finish 14 points clear of Briton Freddie ⁠Slater, an Audi junior driver.

Slater, 18, ​had gone ‌into the weekend 15 points clear ⁠of ​his U.S. rival.

The junior series is one rung below Formula Two on ⁠the ladder to Formula One.

New ​York-born Ugochukwu follows in the footsteps of past F3 champions Oscar Piastri and ⁠Gabriel Bortoleto, who now race in Formula One with McLaren and Audi respectively.

"We knew we just had to ​keep it clean to ⁠clinch the title, and that's what ​we did. No mistakes, ‌brought it home and ​super pleased," he said.

(Reporting by Alan BaldwinEditing by Christian Radnedge)