Dunne third in Formula 2 feature race in Barcelona

Ireland’s Alex Dunne had to settle for third place in the Formula 2 feature race in Barcelona as Rafael Camara took his first win.

After starting in second place, Dunne took the lead off the line but was overtaken later in the race by Brazil’s Rafael Camara and Bulgaria’s Nikola Tsolov, who both had fresher tyres.

It is a fifth podium of the season for the Alpine Junior driver Dunne, who is in his second season in Formula 2.

The 20-year-old, who finished in eighth place in the sprint race on Saturday, made a great start and passed Invicta Racing’s Camara into the first corner.

But after making an earlier pit stop, he could not stop the Ferrari junior driver overtaking him with seven laps to go.

After being passed by Tsolov in the closing stages, Dunne held off fellow Apline junior Gabriele Mini on the final lap to claim a fifth podium in as many rounds.

GB’s John Bennett finished in seventh position for his first points of the season, while Cian Shields was 20th.

Red Bull’s Tsolov leads the standings by three points ahead of Italy’s Mini, while Dunne is up to fourth after a solid weekend.

Camara, whose victory was his first in Formula 2, is up to third in the championship.

In Formula 3, Red Bull Junior driver Fionn McLaughlin finished in 26th place in the feature race and 20th in the sprint race.

Campos Racing’s Theophile Nael took the chequered flag in Sunday’s feature race while Australia’s James Wharton won the sprint race on Saturday.

Formula 2 standings

1. Nikola Tsolov (Bul) 86 points

1. Gabriele Mini (Ita) 83

2. Rafael Camara (Bra) 69

3. Alex Dunne (Irl) 64

5. Noel Leon (Mex) 54