Boya wins rain-shortened F3 feature race at Silverstone

Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd

Mari Boya won an FIA Formula 3 feature race shortened due to torrential rain at Silverstone ahead of Theophile Nael and Noel Leon.

In mixed conditions for the start, only three of the top 10 began the race on wet tyres: Boya (Campos), Nael (VAR) and Leon (Prema). The decision proved to be inspired as Boya leapt into the lead at the start from fourth on the grid, with Nael and Leon following close behind.

By the second lap the order was completely flipped: Boya led from Nael and Leon while polesitter Nikola Tsolov found himself leading the group of slick tyre runners, including fellow front row starter Ugo Ugochuwku and championship leader Rafael Camara, down in 20th place.

At the front the weather didn’t prevent drivers from making moves, with Laurens van Hoepen passing sprint race winner Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak on the inside of Club for fourth.

Roman Bilinski quickly followed through into Luffield, having started 17th yet climbing into fifth after five laps. The Rodin driver was on a charge and passed van Hoepen the following lap for fourth, seemingly comfortable with the challenging conditions.

Boya continued to extend his advantage, with over a 3 second advantage to Nael in second and a gap of over 40 seconds to Tsolov.

By lap 10 all slick runners had pitted for wet tyres, Trident’s Charlie Wurz profiting the most having opted to box earlier and jumping all the slick runners to lead that group.

The rain had begun to dramatically intensify and it all came to a head when Louis Sharp aquaplaned off into the gravel at Club, meaning the safety car was required.

With those released from behind the safety car including Camara struggling to stay on track, the red flag was shown on lap 14, and with the rain showing no sign of easing after 15 minutes, it was decided that the race would not be resumed.

That meant Boya claimed his first win of the season ahead of Nael in a season best’s second. Noel Leon came third, giving Prema a double podium after Ugochukwu’s success in the sprint race. Bilinski came in fourth, his phenomenal progress up the field halted just shy of the podium places.

Race results