Tsolov on top as rookies benefit from early teammate crash

Three rookies took to the FIA Formula 2 Feature Race podium, as Campos’ Nikola Tsolov won the race in strong fashion. An early crash between Rodin teammates Alex Dunne and Martinius Stenshorne when leading saw Tsolov joined Invicta’s Rafael Camara and Trident’s Laurens van Hoepen.

On the start, polesitter Dino Beganovic got a poor start for DAMS, and dropped to fifth as teammates Dunne and Stenshorne were among the cars to jump the Swede immediately occupying the top two spots, with Stenshorne the man ahead.

No more than three laps in, Dunne made a move to pass his teammate and in passing him, took off the Norwegian’s front wing and ended both drivers’ race at turn one with both cars losing their engines and handing the lead to Tsolov who led reigning F3 champion, Camara, then Beganovic. Dunne was handed a 10 second penalty post race for the above collision.

Supersoft tyre runners began the pit stop sequence around lap eight and through that period, Tsolov held the lead ahead of Camara, while Van Hoepen benefitted to leap up to third. Beganovic would then jump Van Hoepen and Camara before a mechanical issue prompted him to pull over and deploy the safety car with debutant Nico Varrone benefitting as he pitted later and took the lead.

Varrone quickly dropped back through the order, not helped by a five second penalty for speeding in the pitlane, and dropped behind Tsolov, Camara and Van Hoepen.

The top three would hold position on debut, meaning an all rookie podium for the season’s opening feature race.

Points result:

Championship standings:

📸Image credits: Formula Motorsport Limited.