Câmara takes Spa F2 Feature win

Rafael Câmara was made to work for his second victory of the Formula 2 season, putting in a mature display to win the Spa-Francorchamps Feature Race.

The Brazilian driver had to manage losing his lead at the start, a Red Flag stoppage and challenges from his rivals to seal the win – with Invicta Racing winning both races at Spa for the second consecutive year.

ART Grand Prix driver Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak achieved his maiden Formula 2 podium in P2, with Campos Racing’s Nikola Tsolov in third.

It was a great start for Inthraphuvasak who got ahead of Câmara immediately at lights out. The Invicta driver was left to fight with the fast-starting Tsolov, who got ahead of Alexander Dunne.

Câmara and Tsolov went side by side through Eau Rouge but the former won the battle, with Dunne left to defend fourth from Sprint winner Joshua Duerksen into Les Combes.

The safety car was called upon after Oliver Goethe stopped at the exit of Turn 1. Moments before, Gabriele Minì collided with Roman Bilinski at the opening corner, although both drivers were able to continue on. The Italian later received a five-second time penalty.

Racing resumed on lap 3 and Tsolov resumed his attack on Câmara. The two went side by side at La Source with the championship leader going through the gravel at corner exit, and this allowed Dunne and Duerksen through. The Bulgarian lost more positions on the next lap, as Nico Varrone went around his outside at Blanchimont, while John Bennett passed him at the final chicane – relegating Tsolov to P7.

On lap 5 and Duerksen – the lead driver to have started on the medium tire – got past Dunne down the Kemmel Straight, while teammate Câmara overtook Inthraphuvasak for the lead into Les Combes.

A few corners later, Duerksen rounded Inthraphuvasak heading into the final chicane for second, as the Supersoft tyre runners started to struggle. By the time they pitted at the end of lap 6, Câmara had lost the lead to the Paraguayan, while Dunne was sixth ahead of Inthraphuvasak with Tsolov down in 12th.

The Brazilian emerged as the lead driver to have made their mandatory stop, while Dunne, having been jumped by Inthraphuvasak in the pitlane, overtook the ART driver at Les Combes. Laurens van Hoepen was ahead of Tsolov.

Van Hoepen’s race was over soon after however, as he crashed into the barrier at the exit of Turn 9. The Trident driver was OK and jumped out of the car but the red flag was waved to clear the track in the aftermath.

Having made his mandatory stop under the safety car, Noel León emerged ahead of Câmara in the net race lead.

Once the action resumed, the race was being run to time, and Duerksen led the field away with just 21 minutes remaining on rolling start.

Dunne was coming under pressure from Inthraphuvasak and Tsolov, while León started to pick his way through the traffic, getting past Cian Shields at the final chicane. On the next lap, the Campos driver was caught off guard by Câmara at Turn 1, with Invicta driver going around his outside to take the net race lead.

Dunne then followed the Invicta driver to go past León with the help of DRS into Les Combes. But the safety car was out again with Fittipaldi having found the gravel at Turn 8.

Those that had not yet made their mandatory stop came in for the supersoft tires, leaving Câmara in P1 ahead of Dunne, León, Inthraphuvasak, Tsolov and Minì. Duerksen was the lead driver on the softer compound in P10, as they looked to try to come through the field.

Racing resumed with just under 12 minutes to go and Tsolov went to the inside of Inthraphuvasak at La Source. The ART rookie held him off briefly but lost P4 at Les Combes.

With just over eight minutes to go, Dunne and León were given five-second time penalties for exceeding track limits one too many times.

Out in front, Câmara was two seconds clear with three minutes to go, while Inthraphuvsak was eying a move on León. The ART driver took P3 on the road down the Kemmel Straight as we entered the final minute of the race.

Invicta then came on the radio to tell Câmara that rain was falling into the pitlane, as we entered into the final lap. But the Brazilian was unaffected as he crossed the line to win for the second time this season, giving Invicta four wins in a row at Spa. With Dunne and León’s penalties taking effect, Inthraphuvsak and Tsolov finished second and third respectively.

Dunne dropped to fourth ahead of Minì, with Rafael Villagómez in sixth ahead of León. Hitech teammates Colton Herta and Ritomo Miyata followed as Mari Boya took the final point in 10th.

“I’m very happy with that, the team did a very good job," Câmara said. "The car was amazing today and now we focus on Budapest.”

Tsolov continues to lead the drivers’ championship on 161 points, extending his lead over Minì, who stays second on 134. Rafael Câmara is third with 125 points, while Alexander Dunne is fourth on 108 points as Noel León continues to round out the top five with 75.

In the teams’ standings, Campos Racing retain its lead at the top with 236 points. Rodin Motorsport are second on 165, just two points ahead of MP Motorsport. Invicta Racing are fourth on 161 points, as ART Grand Prix round out the top five with 109.

RESULTS