Dunne leads Camara in Silverstone practice as F2’s top two struggle

Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd

Alex Dunne topped Formula 2 practice at Silverstone with Rafael Camara and Dino Beganvoic completing the top three.

In an eventful session, both Gabriele Mini and Nikola Tsolov, the leading duo in the championship, endured difficult sessions; Mini finding the wall at Chapel while Tsolov failed to make much impression.

Tasanapol Inthraphuvusak was first to set a representative time before Rodin’s ADunne toppled him with a 1m43.143s. His teammate Martinius Stenshorne was just behind, 0.085 seconds adrift.

Having had his opening lap deleted, Mini went fastest with a 1m42.865s with Prema’s Mari Boya going second fastest, 0.143s shy.

Fresh off his maiden victory in Austria, John Bennett went fastest with half an hour remaining before Dunne restored order at the front, going fastest with a 1m42.513s.

Prema continued to show its hand, Montoya going fourth while Boya looked set for the front after a purple opening sector, only to lose time in the final corner leaving him eighth.

Roman Bilinski was Dunne’s closest competitor, the DAMS driver 0.133s adrift in second, before Kush Maini moved to within 0.086s of the Rodin driver.

The yellow flags briefly flew after Mini found the wall at Chapel, the Italian losing the rear coming out of Becketts, propelling him into the wall and damaging his suspension. He joined Colton Herta in the pitlane as works continued on the American’s engine.

Dunne’s stint at the top ended though with 25 minutes remaining as Invicta’s Rafael Camara took over with a 1m42.136s putting the Brazilian 0.377s clear.

The Hitech crew briefly got Herta’s car up and running only for the Cadillac-backed driver to bring out the yellow flags as he ground to a halt just four corners after the pit exit.

Camara remained top with 15 minutes remaining. His teammate Joshua Duerksen found pace to slot into third, 0.361s adrift, before Bennett reclaimed a top three position.

Despite his earlier excursion, Mini returned to the track to put his MP second, 0.218s adrift of Camara while Durksen slotted into third, 0.262s shy of his teammate.

Bilinski was next to improve, going second 0.190s behind Camara before his teammate, Dino Beganvoic, moved to within 0.005s of the leading Invicta.

With 10 minutes remaining, Dunne returned to the top once more with a 1m42.06s moving him clear of Camara by 0.071s. Montoya meanwhile, continued Prema’s upturn in pace, snatching fourth from Bilinski.

Stenshorne was the last driver to set a lap before the FIA started a virtual safety car test, neutralising running for the final five minutes meaning Dunne was able to hold on to top spot.

Camara remained 0.071s adrift with Beganovic maintaining third spot ahead of Montoya. Bilinski rounded out the top five with championship leader Mini in sixth, and his nearest rival Nikola Tsolov outside the top ten in 11th.

Free practice results