Richard Verschoor takes victory as strategy call flips F2 Barcelona sprint
Richard Verschoor earned a dramatic victory in the FIA Formula 2 sprint race at Barcelona
BARCELONA–Dutchman Richard Verschoor made the most of a bold strategy call in the FIA Formula 2 sprint race to storm through the field and take victory in Barcelona.
Red Bull junior Jak Crawford held the lead ahead of a hard-charging Luke Browning as the race hit the halfway mark, but a late safety car turned the race on its head.
PREMA Racing teammates Sebastián Montoya and Gabriele Minì collided at turn one, with Minì out of the race and stopped on the inside of turn two.
Verschoor, in tenth, led a group of drivers who dived into pit lane to change onto the soft tyre for a sprint to the finish, with five laps to go when racing resumed.
The gamble paid off, with the drivers on the fresh tyre emerging from pit lane with a huge pace advantage. Verschoor made his way through the leaders to take the lead on lap 24, with series contender Alex Dunne following him through and up into second.
Verschoor escaped penalty for nudging Arvid Lindblad during a wheel-to-wheel battle earlier in the race, confirming a resounding victory.
"Been in F2 for a while but this one was definitely crazy," said the MP Motorsport driver.
"Beginning of the race, I was just hanging on. I stalled at the start, so that was a bit of a shame, and then once the safety car came out, the team did the right call.
"They told me very confidently to box, I followed what they told me, and in the end we had a great race. It was still a bit tricky at the end, I think Alex was also really quick, but really happy in the end to be first"
Verschoor had stalled on the grid, with Alex Dunne taking multiple penalties to start 19th, making his way up to second and fighting for the lead at the chequered flag.
Behind them, Rafael Villagómez took his first FIA Formula 2 podium after starting last on the 22-car grid.
"Pretty happy. First podium in Formula 2, after a really bad day yesterday," said the Mexican.
"I think it's always nice to have a crazy race, but I'll take that any day."
Alex Dunne takes back the lead of the Formula 2 standings on 76 points, with Luke Browning just fourth points behind, finishing seventh after a sterling early drive before the safety car. Verschoor jumps to third in the standings on 69 points.
Arvid Lindblad will set the grid from pole position when the FIA Formula 2 feature race begins at 6.00pm Sunday (AEST).
