Tsolov dominates F2 Feature to complete Silverstone double

Nikola Tsolov became the first driver in FIA Formula 2 history to win three consecutive races as he completed a historic Silverstone double with a special victory in the Feature Race. The Campos Racing driver took the lead late on to win by 3.2s from Rafael Villagómez, who made the alternative strategy work to finish second for Van Amersfoort Racing with ART Grand Prix driver Kush Maini in third.

It was a slow getaway for pole-sitter Rafael Câmara and fellow front row starter Alexander Dunne as Maini rocketed to P1 from third of the line. It was once again a great start for Tsolov, who went from fifth to second, as Câmara and Dunne battled for P3.

The Invicta Racing driver won the contest, but having had four wheels of the track at Turn 4, his team instructed him to give his Rodin Motorsport rival back the position. Maini on the other hand was flying and was 2.1s clear of Tsolov at the start of lap 4.

Câmara came on the radio to tell his team that he wanted to stop as early as possible on his softs, and it was clear to see with the hard tire runners now looking quicker. Villagómez and Joshua Duerksen were flying through, up to fourth and sixth by lap 6, with Maini, Tsolov, Dunne, Câmara, Ritomo Miyata, Bilinski, Nico Varrone, Sebastián Montoya and Emerson Fittipaldi all coming in to fit a set of the harder compound.

Tsolov had closed in on Maini at the end of the soft tire stint, and he was back putting the ART driver under pressure for the net race lead. On lap 10 however the Bulgarian dropped back out of DRS range. Further behind him, Bilinski overtook Inthraphuvasak for P13 on the road – but a net fifth place.

At the front of the field, Villagómez was flying away from Duerksen, who was beginning to see championship leader Gabriele Minì in his mirrors, just 1.5s behind on lap 14. Lap 17 saw the end of Montoya’s race, as he pulled over to the side of the road before returning to the pitlane, reporting rear suspension damage.

A couple of laps later Tsolov had closed back in on Maini, and they started battling for position. The Campos driver tried to go around the outside at Stowe corner and at the inside at Vale, but Maini defended well to keep position.

They battle through the opening two sectors of lap 20, and Tsolov finally made his way through thanks to a brave move at Maggots and Becketts. The yet to pit drivers were starting to come in with Minì in on lap 23, Duerksen stopping on lap 24 and race leader Villagómez changing to the softs on lap 25.

The Mexican driver came back out behind Câmara, but had four laps to overtake those ahead, with his eyes set on the podium. After getting his tires up to temperature, Villagómez overtook the Brazilian at Stowe, before making way past Dunne on lap 27 down the Wellington straight, putting him on the podium.

On the penultimate lap, the VAR driver dived to the inside of Maini at Village to take second place. But Tsolov was too far ahead as he would go on to claim his sixth victory of the season. Villagómez was second ahead of Maini. Dunne finished fourth ahead of Câmara, Minì and Noel León. Bilinski ended up in P8, with Duerksen ninth ahead of Inthraphuvasak. Colton Herta finished 16th.

Tsolov is now in the sole lead of the drivers’ championship with 141 points, with Minì in second on 124. Câmara sits third on 94 points, just two points more than Dunne in fourth, while León rounds out the top five on 69 points.

F2 drivers will be back out on track for Round 8 at Spa-Francorchamps from July 17-19.

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