Following Saturday’s F3 Sprint Race, it was now time for the F3 Feature Race, at the Monaco GP. Friday’s qualifying set the grid for this race, after the reversed results set the Sprint’s grid. This saw Tsolov setting the fastest time of a 1.24.882 in his Campos Racing car. Lining up alongside him will be Bilinski in his Rodin Motorsport, who set the second-fastest time, with a 1.25.332. In 3rd and 4th, will be Boya and Voisin respectively.
After yesterday’s Sprint Race win, Stenshorne will be looking to make a charge up the field. He will be starting from 11th on the grid. Consequently, after qualifying, the two other Sprint Race podium drivers will also need to fight up the field. Taponen with be starting from 9th and Van Hoepen from 10th.
Hedley did not take part in this session, after an injury sustained from a crash in yesterday’s Sprint Race. He was therefore, ruled unfit by medics and will undergo more testing before Barcelona next weekend. Ramos is starting from pit lane.
The Feature Race is a go in Monaco
As the green flag waved, and five lights go out, the F3 Feature Race began in Monaco! Tsolov took the lead into turn one, as Bilinski and Boya slot in behind. Bilinski and Boya went side by side through turn 2.
Câmara made light contact with the rear of an ART Grand Prix car, just getting away with it. Stenshorne moved up on Câmara into P10. DRS was enabled as lap 2 begins. Bilinski moved into the DRS of Tsolov, with a gap of 0.8s.
Del Pino and Marinangeli made contact through the Nouvelle chicane, bringing out a short yellow flag. Del Pino has retreated to the pit lane, with damage to his car.
Tramnitz and León were noted for a collision, which was ruled to need no further investigation. Marinangeli and Del Pino were also noted for a collision. Tsolov has extended his lead to 1.5s on Bilinski at the start of lap 4. Del Pino rejoins the race, mid-lap 7.
The first third of the F3 Feature Race in Monaco was complete, with just 19 laps remaining. The gaps between drivers were beginning to steady. Benavides and Domingues were noted for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, which soon goes under investigation. Consequently, Benavides received a 10s penalty.
Lap 12 saw the Hitech TGR of Xie entering the pit lane for a new front left tyre, rejoining the track 38s behind Ramos. Ugochukwu failed not to make the corner in the Nouvelle chicane. As a result, he had to cut across it instead.
Reaching the halfway mark of the F3 Feature Race
As we reached the halfway point in the F3 Feature in Monaco, Tsolov has taken off, putting 4s between him and Bilinski, which quickly increases to 7.5s.
Lacorte was summoned to the pit lane to retire his DAMS Lucas Oil car. Voisin got on the power too hard into turn 1; consequently, he narrowly misses the wall.
An action packed race for the Safety Car
A yellow flag waves as León dropped down the order. León comes together with the wall at Portier, sustaining major damage to his front left. A safety car was released from the pit lane, as León emerges from his car. This made the second DNF of the session.
Wurz reported a suspected puncture, his team at Trident urging him to stay out for the time being, although preparing for a pit stop.
The safety car returned to the pit lane at the end of lap 19, Bilinski fighting to keep up with Tsolov. Wurz was called to the pit lane, although continued on with lap 20. Cars began to queue behind Wurz, Wurz locking up majorly into Nouvelle chicane. Wurz continued to stay out, raising questions whether he is unable to hear his team, or unable to turn into the pit lane. Wurz hit the wall up through Massenet, as the yellow flag came out.
Maringangeli spun Badoer Portier, ending with his rear in the wall. The stewards gave Marinangeli a 10s penalty as a result. Race Control brought out the safety car once again, as two cars are now stopped on track.
Tsolov got away well, as another yellow flag waves, due to Câmara losing a wheel, and retreating to the pit lane. Five drivers — Badoer, Benavides, Wurz, Leon, and Lacorte — have retired, bringing the DNF count to 5.
As the final lap began, Tsolov had a 5s gap on Bilinski behind, as Boya and Voisin went side by side through turn one. Tsolov crossed the line 7s ahead of Bilinski, with Boya just behind.
Results
1 | N. Tsolov Campos Racing
2 | R. Bilinski Rodin Motorsport
3 | M. Boya Campos Racing
4 | C. Voisin Rodin Motorsport
5 | T. Tramnitz MP Motorsport
6 | L. Van Hoepen ART Grand Prix
7 | T. Taponen ART Grand Prix
8 | M. Stenshorne Hitech TGR
9 | L. SharpRodin Motorsport
10 | A. Giusti MP Motorsport
11 | J. Wharton ART Grand Prix
12 | J. Dufek Hitech TGR
13 | T. Inthraphuvasak Campos Racing
14 | N. Strømsted Trident
15 | C. Ho DAMS Lucas Oil
16 | U. UgochukwuPREMA Racing
17 | M. Zagazeta DAMS Lucas Oil
18 | S. Ramos Van Amersfoort Racing
19 | G. Xie Hitech TGR
20 | I. Domingues Van Amersfoort Racing
21 | N. Marinangeli AIX Racing
22 | DNF T. Naël Van Amersfoort Racing
23 | DNF R. Camara Trident
24 | B. Del Pino MP Motorsport
25 | DNF C. Wurz Trident
26 | DNF B. Badoer PREMA Racing
27 | DNF B. Benavides AIX Racing
28 | DNF N. León PREMA Racing
29 | DNF N. Lacorte DAMS Lucas Oil
