Camara claims first win, Tsolov snatches F2 lead in Barcelona feature

Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd

Rafael Camara cruised to a comfortable maiden Formula 2 victory in the Barcelona feature race after a brilliant strategic call from his Invicta Racing team.

Nikola Tsolov claimed second and with it the championship lead having finished ahead of main rival Gabriele Mini, who missed out on the podium by one second to Alex Dunne.

It was Dunne who get the better start of the front two, snatching the lead away from Camara into turn 1 while behind Van Amersfoort Racing’s Rafael Villagomez made a bold move up the inside of Mini and Tsolov to move into third.

Further behind, MP Motorsport’s Oliver Goethe found himself crawling to a halt at the pit entry, meaning the safety car bunched the field back up at the end of lap 1.

After just two neutralised laps, Dunne led the field away once more, maintaining his lead into turn 1 while behind Nico Varrone made his way past Tsolov, who was slowly slipping down the order while on the hard tyre.

By lap 11 the first round of pitstops began, Villagomez and Dino Beganovic diving for the pits with race leader Dunne copying them on the following lap.

The Rodin Motorsport driver rejoined just behind AIX Racing’s Cian Shield in 13th. Behind him, Mini had also pitted and moved back ahead of Villagomez.

By lap 20, Camara remained out in the lead, opting to go long on his tyres. Tsolov headed team-mate Noel Leon while Dunne continued to make progress down in ninth.

Two laps later though, Invicta called its Brazilian talisman in while behind Villagomez made progress past Miyata into the top 10. Camara rejoined six seconds behind net race leader Dunne who was under pressure from Mini, the erstwhile championship leader going three wide with Joshua Duerksen and the Irishman through turn 12.

As the remaining drivers headed for pitlane, Dunne retook the lead, marginally ahead of Mini in second with Villagomez 1.5 seconds behind the pair but under pressure from Beganovic.

It was Camara though that was making the progress. With tyres 10 laps fresher, he moved past Beganovic into turn 10 before passing Villagomez into turn 1 and climbing into the podium places.

Towards the rear of the field Trident’s Laurens Van Hoepen completed a spectacular move round the outside of both Maini and Bennett into turn 11 as the Dutch driver moved to 12th.

With nine laps remaining, Camara bullied his way past Mini and set after Dunne who was 1.6s up the road. Further back, Villagomez fended off a challenge from Beganovic who found his way past the Mexican into turn 1 the following lap.

Having closed the gap to Dunne up in front, Camara, using DRS, comfortably cleared him into turn 1. Tsolov, who had also pitted late, moved past both Villagomez and Beganovic for fourth place.

With four laps remaining, Tsolov found his way past Mini for the final step on the podium in a critical move for the Bulgarian’s championship battle. The Campos driver looked to close the gap to Dunne up ahead and it didn’t take long before he was right on his gearbox.

Dunne defended from Tsolov into turn 1 but the Red Bull junior held firm round the outside of turn 4, securing second place.

A charge for the lead proved too little too late and with Camara 7.8s up the road the Ferrari junior was free to cruise home to victory with Tsolov and Dunne completing the top three.

Mini came in fourth with Van Hoepen completing a late charge to pass Beganovic and round out the top five. His teammate John Bennett finished seventh having started 18th with Leon, Maini and Villagomez completing the top ten.

Race results (37 laps)