FEATURE RACE: Inthraphuvasak wins ahead of Tsolov as Campos take Teams’ title in epic Monza finale

Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak put in an assured performance to win the Monza Feature Race ahead of his teammate Nikola Tsolov, giving Campos Racing their first ever FIA Formula 3 Teams’ title.

The Thai driver made his way up from fourth on the grid to take the win, while Tsolov followed him home in second as Noel León took the final spot on the podium for PREMA Racing.

AS IT HAPPENED

It was an even start at the front for pole-sitter Brad Benavides and front row starter Ugo Ugochukwu, as they maintained their positions, while León and Inthraphuvasak went side-by-side into Turn 4 for P3.

The Campos driver took P3, but while they were battling for position, TRIDENT’s title hopes took a massive hit, as Charlie Wurz stopped on track with damage.

This brought out the Safety Car, but racing resumed on Lap 3 of 22, with Tsolov the next Campos to get past León, this time for P4 and into Turn 1.

Up ahead, Ugochukwu was right on the back of Benavides and the pair went wheel-to-wheel into Turn 4. The AIX driver ran wide at the corner though, and while he maintained the position, he was told to give his American counterpart the place.

Benavides did so heading into the final corner, which allowed him to get the run on Ugochukwu down the main straight. He used this to retake the lead into Turn 1, as Inthraphuvasak followed him through.

However, onto Lap 4 and Ugochukwu went around the outside of his Campos rival for P2 at Turn 4, putting him back up to second.

The Safety Car was back out to recover Fernando Barrichello’s car from the Ascari chicane, but the green flags were waved to kick off racing on Lap 7. Inthraphuvasak was struggling and dropped to third behind Tsolov and León.

Benavides was resisting each one of Ugochukwu’s attempts to overtake, both into Turn 1 and Turn 4. However, the PREMA driver’s race soon ended at the Ascari chicane, as a slight touch with the gravel sent him into a spin and knocked him out of the running, bringing out the Safety Car.

Back to racing on Lap 11 and Benavides once again had a good restart, as Tsolov came under pressure from León.

The Bulgarian quickly turned defence to attack though and was right on the back of Benavides heading into the final corner and took the lead into Turn 1.

However, the AIX driver was refusing to give up on a maiden win and went around the outside of Tsolov at Turn 4 to take back P1.

Inthraphuvasak was on the charge and got ahead of León for third at the start of Lap 14. However, TRIDENT was now back in play for the title, as Noah Stromsted climbed up to sixth while Rafael Câmara was 10th, having started last.

That was aided by Matías Zagazeta stopping on track with front wing damage. The DAMS Lucas Oil driver collided with Martinius Stenshorne and then Tuukka Taponen, which sent him off at Ascari and forced him to stop at the final corner.

Inthraphuvasak though clearly had eyes on a third win of the season as he dived to the inside of his teammate for P2 at the Ascari chicane, although the Bulgarian took it back at Turn 1 on Lap 16.

Behind them, Câmara had charged up to sixth, despite going on the grass briefly on the run down to the final corner, as he got past Taponen, Alessandro Giusti and Stromsted.

At the start of Lap 17, Tsolov was having a look at Benavides but then came Inthraphuvasak, who rounded them both into Turn 1 to take the lead.

Benavides was keen to get the place back but ran too deep into Turn 1 on the following lap, and while he came out in front, he gave the positions back.

Behind them, Câmara was well within DRS range of the top five, and as Lap 19 of 22 got underway, the Champion dived to the inside of Roman Bilinski at Turn 4, and after running wide at the corner, the Rodin Motorsport driver let Câmara through a few corners later.

Onto the penultimate lap and after biding his time, Tsolov looked to make a move on Inthraphuvasak. The race leader shut the door, but this gave Benavides the run on the P2 driver, although he ran slightly off-line into Turn 4, allowing León through for third.

Their squabbling for P3 allowed the Campos duo to go clear as Inthraphuvasak led Tsolov home in a one-two for the team, giving the Spanish outfit the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Teams’ Championship.

León held on for third, with Benavides in fourth, Câmara and Stromsted fifth and sixth. Bilinski was seventh, Giusti eighth, Boya ninth as Tramnitz took the final point in P10.

KEY QUOTE - Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak, Campos Racing

“Really happy to end this season off with a win, super happy for the team as well, we got the Teams’ title, so just overall really happy. I want to say thanks to the team for their hard work this season and for continuing to push all the time and for the one-two today.”

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

Câmara winds up with 166 points at the top of the Drivers’ Standings followed by Tsolov in second with 124. He overtakes teammate Mari Boya who falls to third on 116 ahead of Tim Tramnitz in fourth on 94. Martinius Stenshorne rounds out the top five with 89 points.

Campos Racing are Teams’ Champions on 314 points ahead of TRIDENT who slip to second on 303. MP Motorsport finish third on 177, ahead of ART Grand Prix on 152, and Van Amersfoort Racing in fifth on 138.

UP NEXT

That is the final racing action of the year but Formula 3 is not done yet in 2025, as we have three post-season tests, the first one is set to get underway in Jerez, Spain from October 7-8.