SPRINT RACE: Impressive Fornaroli seals maiden F2 victory at Silverstone

Leonardo Fornaroli was in brilliant form on Saturday afternoon, as he put in a dominant performance to seal his maiden Formula 2 victory in the Silverstone Sprint Race.

The Invicta Racing driver lost the lead at the start but took it back from Kush Maini almost immediately, before going off into the distance to claim the win.

Sebastián Montoya came through from sixth on the grid to finish in second for PREMA Racing, as Roman Stanek made it two Invicta cars on the podium in third.

AS IT HAPPENED

It was a great start from Kush Maini, who took the lead from pole-sitter Fornaroli ahead of Turn 1. However, the Invicta driver kept battling and retook the place with a brave move into Copse corner.

Montoya and Stanek each gained three places at the start and were running in third and fourth by the end of Lap 1.

Lap 2 of 21, and Fornaroli had pulled out a one second gap on Maini, who was coming under pressure from Montoya, Stanek and AIX Racing’s Joshua Duerksen.

In the battle for the final spot in the points, Arvid Lindblad, having started in P11, was up to eighth, but coming under pressure from compatriot Luke Browning.

Back at the front, Maini had a difficult start to Lap 4, locking up into Village, and bringing Montoya even closer, although the DAMS driver was able to resist the Colombian’s attempts to overtake.

After a failed move into Stowe, Browning finally got past Lindblad with a dive to the inside of the Campos Racing rookie at Turn 4 on Lap 7.

On the next lap, Alexander Dunne, running in 11th, locked up into Turn 3, giving Gabriele Minì the chance to overtake him at the next corner.

However, the two collided, leaving the Rodin Motorsport driver with a puncture, although the Italian was later given a 10-second time penalty by the Stewards for causing a collision. Minì continued on in P12, while Dunne came in to put on a set of the Softs.

At the front though, Fornaroli’s lead over Maini was 1.1s at the start of Lap 11, with Montoya staying within DRS range of the DAMS in front.

The drivers had settled into management though but on Lap 14, Maini, Montoya, and Stanek started to set personal best times, as Verschoor, having overtaken Lindblad, closed in on Browning.

Montoya then finally made his move past Maini for P2, going down the inside at Stowe on Lap 15. The DAMS driver lost DRS to Montoya on Lap 16 and had Stanek to fend off next. The two went side-by-side through Stowe and into the final chicane, but Maini kept P3.

Stanek attempted another move through Stowe on Lap 18, but again found the door shut by Maini. But their squabbling brought the cars down to Verschoor in P9 into play, as the battle for the final spot intensified.

Maini was fighting hard but was seven seconds behind Montoya at the start of Lap 20, as Lindblad in 11th, as well as Minì and Josep María Martí all joined the fight.

Stanek finally made his way past Maini at Stowe to take P3 heading onto the final lap.

After a several lap-long battle, there was contact between the two Williams liveried cars of Martins and Browning in seventh and eighth at Luffield. The Briton continued on his way in seventh, but Martins dropped out of the points behind Verschoor.

Out in front though, Fornaroli was untroubled and took the chequered flag to claim his maiden Formula 2 victory.

Montoya was second, with Stanek third, Maini fourth and Duerksen holding Crawford by a thousandth across the line to seal fifth. Browning recovered from his contact with Martins – who finished in P9 – to place seventh, with Verschoor taking the final spot in the points in eighth.

KEY QUOTE - Leonardo Fornaroli, Invicta Racing

“Very happy about today’s race, P1 finally. Really happy about my pace, I managed to be quick at the start, but without destroying my tyres, and with this I was able to defend from Sebastián. So very happy about today, now let’s focus on tomorrow’s Feature Race.”

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

Richard Verschoor continues to lead the way out in front in the Drivers’ Championship with 115 points, while Leonardo Fornaroli jumps up to second on 96. Jak Crawford is third on 91 points, with Alexander Dunne slipping down to fourth on 90, as Luke Browning rounds out the top five on 85.

In the Teams’ Standings, Campos Racing continue to lead the way on 146 points, while MP Motorsport are second with 127 points, while Invicta Racing trail the Dutch team by two points in third. DAMS Lucas Oil are fourth on 117, one point clear of fifth-placed Hitech TGR.

UP NEXT

The FIA Formula 2 action continues on 11:05 on Sunday morning with the Silverstone Feature Race. Who will go big at the British venue?