Tsolov triumphant in dramatic Red Bull Ring F2 feature race

Photo: Red Bull

Nikola Tsolov triumphed in a dramatic showdown in Formula 2 feature race at the Red Bull Ring, claiming victory over Gabriele Mini.

Tsolov’s Campos Racing teammate Noel Leon started on pole and lead at turn 1 with the Mexican fending off second-placed Alex Dunne.

Red Bull junior Tsolov charged up the order early on, dispatching Dunne before turn 1 and shooting up the inside of his teammate into turn 3 to claim the race lead.

Further back, Saturday’s podium finishers Rafael Villagomez and Sebastian Montoya found themselves in the wall on the approach to turn 3 having been sandwiched by Invicta’s Joshua Duerksen. With both drivers out of the race the safety car made its first appearance at the end of lap 1.

When racing resumed Tsolov led the field away from Leon but it wasn’t long before the Bulgarian was into the pits for his mandatory stop. Having been followed in by sprint race winner John Bennett and Duerksen, Tsolov re-joined in 14th.

The overcut proved powerful though as Tsolov found himself behind Mini and Dunne after the duo completed their mandatory pitstops. But, on warmer tyres, the Campos driver breezed past the pair heading out of turn 3 to reclaim the net race lead.

The trio exchanged places, Tsolov losing out to both Dunne and Mini the following lap before finding his way back past the Italian the following lap.

Stuck behind the Rodin, Tsolov had to wait until lap 25 before he was able to capitalise on a mistake from Dunne out of the final corner, allowing him to move past on the inside of turn 1 and reclaim the net race lead.

Up ahead, race leader Oliver Goethe, running the alternate strategy, proved to be holding onto his tyres well as he managed the race ahead of second-placed Tasanapol Inthraphuvusak who was 3.7 seconds behind.

With 10 laps to go the MP Motorsport driver came into the pits to get rid of his tyres, dropping him down to 10th.

Towards the rear of the field, Mari Boya’s torrid start to the season continued as his engine blew in spectacular fashion exiting turn 3.

After Goethe and the remaining alternate runners pitted, Tsolov took over the lead and began to extend his two-second gap over Mini behind.

With the top two checked out, all eyes were on Camara and Dunne who resumed their battle for third. The Brazilian looked to the outside of turn 3 but found himself forced onto the run off.

With the pair squabbling over third, Goethe was able to close up to the rear of the pair with five laps remaining and shot past the pair on the outside of turn 4 to put himself into the podium positions.

Tsolov though remained untroubled up in the lead, crossing the line 3.9s clear of Mini who fended off Goethe’s late charge.

Camara held fifth while Intraphuvusak found a way past Dunne for fifth. Martinius Stenshorne also finished ahead of his teammate in sixth but received a 30-second time penalty because he was judged to have served his pitstop under virtual safety car conditions.

Race results (40 laps)