Mini claims first F2 win in chaotic Miami feature race

Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd

Gabriele Mini claimed his first Formula 2 victory in a chaotic wet Miami feature race.

The Alpine junior driver triumphed in a late tussle with Ferrari proteges Dino Beganovic and Rafael Camara, the top three separated by under two seconds at the chequered flag.

After two formation laps under the safety car following heavy rain in the build up, racing got underway with polesitter Kush Maini comfortably leading the way as Camara bogged down from second on the grid.

Invicta driver Camara was one of a number of drivers to run wide at the first turn while further back, Saturday’s sprint race winner Nikola Tsolov was collected by Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak, the Bulgarian driver eliminated at the first corner.

With the safety car out, drivers were instructed to head through the pits as marshals recovered the stricken Campos Racing car. Yet the leading pair of Maini and Camara seemingly missed the call, passing the pit entrance while fifth-placed Mini dived into the pits but, in the process, missed the outside bollard that drivers must be to the right of when entering the pits.

In a period of confusion, Rodin’s Martinius Stenshorne, who had been the first driver to enter the pits, exited the race in the lead but returned the position to Maini while under the safety car.

That meant as the safety car came in at the end of lap 3, Maini led Stenshorne, who then dived for the pits to serve a stop-go penalty due to having team personnel on the grid after the three-minute warning, dropping him to the rear of the field.

Further back, Oliver Goethe suffered an almighty snap heading out of the final corner, propelling the German into the outside barriers and almost collecting Beganovic, who had made a stellar start from 11th on the grid to climb to fifth.

A virtual safety car period was required to clean the debris left from the incident but only lasted one lap as Maini continued to lead the field.

By lap nine the Indian driver had moved over seven seconds clear as the Invicta pair of Camara and Duerksen continued to battle behind. A bold move heading through turn 6 allowed Beganovic to clear Mini for fourth and close up to the Invicta duo.

Alex Dunne had closed up to the rear of this battle but outbraked himself into turn 17, running wide and into the barriers to bring the safety car back out once more.

With 10 laps completed, the majority of drivers dived into the pits. Duerksen, Herta and Bennett opted to stay out while Camara passed Maini for the net race lead after the ART driver was forced to wait in his pit box as traffic streamed past.

With the race now switching to a timed contest, 25 minutes remained as Duerksen led away at the restart. Beganovic continued his resurgent drive, passing Maini for a net second place in the race before Noel Leon followed through at the end of the first green flag lap.

With 20 minutes remaining the safety car returned with Stenshorne’s Rodin car left stricken on the outside of turn 17 after being tapped by Nico Varrone.

Duerksen headed for the pits handing his team-mate Camara the lead. Having led away at the restart, Camara was once again under pressure with five drivers now battling for the lead.

Mini managed to sneak past Leon before the safety car was required once more in order to recover the stricken AIX car of Cian Shields.

Under the safety car, Trident and John Bennett made a switch to slick tyres but, having struggled for grip and spinning at turn 12, the British driver returned the following lap to change back to wets.

With six minutes remaining, Camara led Beganovic and Mini. The Swedish driver challenged for the lead into turn 17 and passed on the inside. Camara tried to retaliate with an optimistic lunge down the inside of turn 1 but, in the process, conceded his second place to Mini.

The Italian held his position before capitalising on a Beganovic mistake into turn 15, the DAMS driver cutting the chicane before running wide at turn 17, effectively handing Mini his first F2 race win.

Camara held off Leon for third with pole sitter Maini rounding out the top five. Ritomo Miyata held of Mari Boya and Duerksen with Prema’s Sebastian Montoya coming home ninth despite making contact with Herta in the closing stages. After his gamble on slick tyres, Bennett came home to round out the top 10.

Race results (25 laps)