PRACTICE: Tsolov leads Câmara in Red Flag-filled Spielberg session

Campos Racing’s Nikola Tsolov set the fastest time of Friday morning’s Spielberg Free Practice, leading the way ahead of TRIDENT’s Rafael Câmara and Noah Stromsted.

The Bulgarian’s 1:22.018 proved to be the lap to beat, leading his Championship rival by 0.158s, as Stromsted rounded out the top three, over four-tenths behind.

The session started with most of the grid biding their time in the pitlane, although DAMS Lucas Oil debutant Nikita Johnson was getting up to speed, setting an early time of 1:25.165.

However, with just over 10 minutes gone in the session, Stromsted made his way onto the track and completed a 1:24.311.

As the Danish rookie finished his first flying attempt, the majority of the grid made their way on to the circuit.

PREMA Racing’s Noel León then went to P2 on 1:24.001. However, there was bad news for his teammate Brando Badoer, who wound up in the gravel at Turn 8, bringing out the Red Flags.

Action resumed with just over 18 minutes left in the session, but a Red Flag was soon signalled with Hitech TGR’s Gerrard Xie having stopped on track at Turn 3.

10 minutes remained on the clock when the green flags were waved, and there were plenty of changes on the timing screens as Tsolov’s 1:22.018 put him on top.

The Campos driver was 1.098s clear of Taponen in second when the Red Flags were back out, with AIX Racing’s Brad Benavides having found the gravel at Turn 4.

Three minutes were left on the clock when green flag running resumed and the drivers were able to improve as Câmara went to P2, with Stromsted, 0.483s off Tsolov, in P3.

Taponen wound up fourth ahead of Campos’ Mari Boya in fifth, as Ugo Ugochukwu ended up in P6 for PREMA. James Wharton followed in P7, just ahead of Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak in P8.

Laurens van Hoepen made it three ART cars in the top 10 with P9, while home favourite Charlie Wurz did the same for TRIDENT, ending up in 10th.

The drivers will be back out on track in Spielberg later today for Qualifying at 15:00 local time.