Nikola Dimitrov Tsolov (Bulgarian: Никола Димитров Цолов; Bulgarian pronunciation: [ni'kɔɫa dimiˈtrɔf ˈt͡sɔɫɔf]; born 21 December 2006) is a Bulgarian racing driver who is the champion of the 2022 F4 Spanish Championship. He is set to compete with Campos Racing in the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship, after racing with ART Grand Prix for two seasons.
| Nikola Tsolov | |
|---|---|
Tsolov in Eurocup-3 Valencia 2023 | |
| Nationality | Bulgarian |
| Born | 21 December 2006 Sofia, Bulgaria |
| FIA Formula 3 Championship career | |
| Debut season | 2023 |
| Current team | Campos Racing |
| Car number | TBA |
| Former teams | ART Grand Prix |
| Starts | 36 (36 entries) |
| Wins | 3 |
| Podiums | 3 |
| Poles | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 1 |
| Best finish | 11th in 2024 |
| Previous series | |
| 2023 2023 2022 2018–21 | Eurocup-3 FR Middle East Championship F4 Spanish Championship Karting |
| Championship titles | |
| 2022 | F4 Spanish Championship |
Tsolov was a member of the Alpine Academy from 2022 until 2024,[1] before moving to the Red Bull Junior Team.
Career
editKarting
editThe Bulgarian lion (a nickname that he gained early in his career)[2] started his karting career in 2016, supported by his father Dimitar.[3] He became Republican champion in 2016 and 2017 in the Bulgarian Mini class. In 2018 he moved to the Italian championships.[4] Driving one of Kart Republic's machines for DPK Racing adorned in the colours of Fernando Alonso's FA Racing outfit, Tsolov was one of the breakout stars this year having gone from Mini to OK-J to OK in successive years.[5]
He won the WSK Open Cup in 60 Mini karts in 2019, came seventh in the junior world championship last year and then was absolutely on it at the senior level in 2021.[6] Tsolov was invited by Fernando Alonso to drive alongside him in the 2021 edition of 24h Endurance race in Dubai, where they finished 3rd.[7][8]
Formula 4
edit2022
editAfter being on the radar of Fernando Alonso for 2 years, in March 2022 the Two times world champion announced the start of A14 Management with Tsolov and Clément Novalak becoming the first drivers joining the program, with Tsolov granting a place in the F4 Spanish Championship for 2022.[9] On 10 March 2022, Tsolov was announced as a driver of Campos.[10] He started Spanish F4 season at Algarve with double pole.[11] On the first race he started on pole, but unfortunately finished 14th, after a problem at the start, gained a 5th place on the second and won the third start with setting the fastest lap in every race.[12] He kept the good pace in the second round on the Circuito de Jerez with setting a poleposition and a fast lap in all three races with finishing second on the first race and winning second and third race which made him a leader in the championship.[13] The next weekend on Circuit Ricardo Tormo he completed his full dominance, winning all three starts with getting 2 pole-positions and another 3 fastest laps.[14] Tsolov secured his championship win on 2 October, after finishing second in the third race on Circuito de Navarra, winning the title 3 races before the end of season.[15]
Formula Regional Middle East
editIn February 2023, Tsolov took part in the last round of 2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship driving for R&B Racing by GRS, as part of his preparation for Formula 3 season.[16] In the first race in the weekend he finished in 9th place, finishing on 6th place in the second race and 15th in the third one. He was the only driver to score points for R&B Racing in the championship.[17]
FIA Formula 3
edit2023
editIn September 2022, Tsolov took part in the FIA Formula 3 post-season test, driving for ART Grand Prix.[18][19][20] On 19 December it was announced that he will be one of ART Grand Prix drivers for the 2023 season.[21] Tsolov scored two points finishes in the sprint races in Spa-Francorhamps and Monza. He finished the season in 22nd place.
2024
editART Grand Prix retained Tsolov for the 2024 season.[22] His first victory came in 2024, where he won the sprint race in Monaco on the weekend of 23-26 May. His second win of the season came in the sprint race in round 6 of the championship in Spielberg. Tsolov would miss the round at Spa-Francorchamps due to racing there in Eurocup-3 because of the rule that you cannot drive at an circuit on the F3 or F2 calendar if you race there earlier in the year. If you do you cannot participate in the F3 or F2 event at that circuit. Because Tsolov was barred from competing he was replaced by Tuukka Taponen.[23]
2025
editTsolov returned to Campos Racing, the team he won the 2022 F4 Spanish Championship with, for his third Formula 3 season for 2025, partnering Mari Boya and Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak.[24]
Eurocup-3
edit2023
editShortly after his FIA Formula 3 season, Tsolov contested in the 2023 Eurocup-3 season with GRS Team. He entried 2 of the 8 rounds, finishing the championship in 10th place with two podiums. [25]
2024
editAlongside his FIA Formula 3 campaign, Tsolov signed with GRS Team to compete in the full 2024 Eurocup-3 season.[26]
Formula One
editTsolov became a member of the Alpine Affiliate programme in March 2022.[27] On 14 February 2023 he was promoted to a full member of Alpine Academy.[28] On 4 November 2024, Tsolov announced on social media that he would leave the academy with immediate effect.[29]
However, just a day later, he was announced to be joining the Red Bull Junior Team for 2025.[30]
Karting record
editKarting career summary
edit| Season | Series | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Bulgarian Republic Championship – Mini | 1st | |
| 2017 | Bulgarian Republic Championship – Mini | 1st | |
| ROK Cup Italy – Mini ROK | Speed Kart | 25th | |
| 2018 | WSK Open Cup – 60 Mini | Birel ART Racing | 33rd |
| WSK Final Cup – 60 Mini | 21st | ||
| 2019 | South Garda Winter Cup – Mini ROK | Newman Motorsport | 14th |
| WSK Super Master Series – 60 Mini | 14th | ||
| Italian Championship – 60 Mini | Team Driver Racing Kart | 12th | |
| Trofeo delle Industrie – 60 Mini | 11th | ||
| WSK Euro Series – 60 Mini | 11th | ||
| ROK Cup Superfinal – Mini ROK | 12th | ||
| WSK Open Cup – 60 Mini | 1st | ||
| WSK Final Cup – 60 Mini | 13th | ||
| 2020 | WSK Champions Cup – OKJ | DPK Racing | 11th |
| South Garda Winter Cup – OKJ | 11th | ||
| WSK Super Master Series – OKJ | NC | ||
| CIK-FIA European Championship – OKJ | 19th | ||
| WSK Euro Series – OKJ | 11th | ||
| Champions of the Future – OKJ | 15th | ||
| CIK-FIA World Championship – OKJ | 7th | ||
| WSK Open Cup – OK | 5th | ||
| 2021 | WSK Champions Cup – OK | DPK Racing | 8th |
| WSK Super Master Series – OK | 8th | ||
| WSK Euro Series – OK | 4th | ||
| Italian Karting Championship – X30 Senior | 2nd | ||
| CIK-FIA European Championship – OK | 4th | ||
| WSK Open Cup – OK | 5th | ||
| Champions of the Future – OK | 3rd | ||
| CIK-FIA World Championship – OK | 5th | ||
| South Garda Winter Cup – OK | 4th | ||
| WSK Final Cup – OK | 2nd | ||
| Sources:[31][32] | |||
Complete CIK-FIA Karting European Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | DPK Racing | OKJ | ZUE QH 15 |
ZUE R 8 |
SAR QH 13 |
SAR R NR |
WAC QH 43 |
WAC R DNQ |
19th | 8 | ||
| 2021 | DPK Racing | OK | GEN QH 7 |
GEN R 5 |
AUB QH 14 |
AUB R 29 |
SAR QH 1 |
SAR R 2 |
ZUE QH 2 |
ZUE R 17 |
4th | 55 |
Complete Karting World Championship results
edit| Year | Team | Class | Quali Heats | Main race |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | OKJ | 4th | 7th | |
| 2021 | OK | 7th | 5th |
Racing record
editRacing career summary
edit| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | F4 Spanish Championship | Campos Racing | 21 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 400 | 1st |
| 2023 | Formula Regional Middle East Championship | R&B Racing by GRS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 23rd |
| FIA Formula 3 Championship | ART Grand Prix | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 22nd | |
| Macau Grand Prix | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | DNF | ||
| Eurocup-3 | GRS Team | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 44 | 10th | |
| 2024 | FIA Formula 3 Championship | ART Grand Prix | 18 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 75 | 11th |
| Eurocup-3 | GRS Team | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 47 | 11th | |
| 2025 | FIA Formula 3 Championship | Campos Racing |
Complete F4 Spanish Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | Pos | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Campos Racing | ALG 1 14 |
ALG 2 1 |
ALG 3 5 |
JER 1 2 |
JER 2 1 |
JER 3 1 |
CRT 1 1 |
CRT 2 1 |
CRT 3 1 |
SPA 1 1 |
SPA 2 1 |
SPA 3 1 |
ARA 1 2 |
ARA 2 1 |
ARA 3 4 |
NAV 1 3 |
NAV 2 2 |
NAV 3 3 |
CAT 1 1 |
CAT 2 1 |
CAT 3 1 |
1st | 400 |
Complete Formula Regional Middle East Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | R&B Racing (GRS) | DUB1 1 |
DUB1 2 |
DUB1 3 |
KUW1 1 |
KUW1 2 |
KUW1 3 |
KUW2 1 |
KUW2 2 |
KUW2 3 |
DUB2 1 |
DUB2 2 |
DUB2 3 |
ABU 1 9 |
ABU 2 6 |
ABU 3 15 |
23rd | 10 |
† – Driver did not finish the race but was classified, as he completed more than 90% of the race distance.
* Season still in progress.
Complete Macau Grand Prix results
edit| Year | Team | Car | Qualifying | Quali Race | Main race |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Dallara F3 2019 | 15th | 13th | DNF |
Complete FIA Formula 3 Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate points for the fastest lap of top ten finishers)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | ART Grand Prix | BHR SPR 26 |
BHR FEA 15 |
MEL SPR 11 |
MEL FEA 21 |
MON SPR 14 |
MON FEA 11 |
CAT SPR 13 |
CAT FEA 19 |
RBR SPR 16 |
RBR FEA 16 |
SIL SPR 15 |
SIL FEA 11 |
HUN SPR Ret |
HUN FEA 25 |
SPA SPR 7 |
SPA FEA 17 |
MNZ SPR 9 |
MNZ FEA 12 |
22nd | 6 | ||
| 2024 | ART Grand Prix | BHR SPR 4 |
BHR FEA 11 |
MEL SPR 20 |
MEL FEA 19 |
IMO SPR 13 |
IMO FEA 26 |
MON SPR 1 |
MON FEA 27 |
CAT SPR 13 |
CAT FEA 6 |
RBR SPR 1 |
RBR FEA 6 |
SIL SPR 5 |
SIL FEA 15 |
HUN SPR 29 |
HUN FEA 1 |
SPA SPR EX |
SPA FEA EX |
MNZ SPR 19 |
MNZ FEA 17 |
11th | 75 |
| 2025 | Campos Racing | BHR SPR |
BHR FEA |
MEL SPR |
MEL FEA |
IMO SPR |
IMO FEA |
MON SPR |
MON FEA |
CAT SPR |
CAT FEA |
RBR SPR |
RBR FEA |
SIL SPR |
SIL FEA |
SPA SPR |
SPA FEA |
HUN SPR |
HUN FEA |
MNZ SPR |
MNZ FEA |
TBD | TBD |
Complete Eurocup-3 results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | GRS Team | SPA 1 |
SPA 2 |
ARA 1 |
ARA 2 |
MNZ 1 |
MNZ 2 |
ZAN 1 |
ZAN 2 |
JER 1 2 |
JER 2 2 |
EST 1 |
EST 2 |
CRT 1 9 |
CRT 2 Ret |
CAT 1 WD |
CAT 2 WD |
10th | 44 | |
| 2024 | GRS Team | SPA 1 Ret |
SPA 2 C |
RBR 1 |
RBR 2 |
POR 1 9 |
POR 2 9 |
POR 3 8 |
LEC 1 |
LEC 2 |
ZAN 1 6 |
ZAN 2 8 |
ARA 1 5 |
ARA 2 3 |
JER 1 10 |
JER 2 Ret |
CAT 1 |
CAT 2 |
11th | 47 |
* Season still in progress.
References
edit- ^ "Nikola Tsolov". Alpine Cars. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ Момче от България с реални шансове да бъде пилот от Формула 1
- ^ Талантливият новобранец
- ^ Българчето, което впечатли легендата Фернандо Алонсо
- ^ Никола Цолов: Голямата ми мечта е "Формула 1"
- ^ The top karting stars of 2021
- ^ 15-годишен прославя България в картинга в отбора на Алонсо
- ^ Никола Цолов: Искам да съм първият българин във Формула 1
- ^ Alonso starts A14 management; reveals Novalak & Tsolov as first signings
- ^ Bulgaria’s Nikola Tsolov joins Campos Racing in Spanish F4
- ^ Nikola Tsolov starts Spanish F4 season at Algarve with double pole
- ^ Alonso protege Nikola Tsolov wins in first weekend in cars in Spanish F4
- ^ Crónica: Nikola Tsolov se confirma como favorito en la segunda cita de la Fórmula 4
- ^ Никола Цолов с четвърта поредна победа във Формула 4
- ^ Никола Цолов стана шампион на Формула 4 Испания
- ^ Никола Цолов ще вземе участие в три старта на Яс Марина
- ^ Никола Цолов завърши 15-ти в Абу Даби
- ^ "Formula 3 returns to action with post-season testing in Jerez". FIA_Formula 3 – The Official F3 Website. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ "Jerez post-season testing Day 2 entry list". FIA_Formula 3 – The Official F3 Website. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ "Jerez post-season testing Day 3 entry list". FIA_Formula 3 – The Official F3 Website. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ Spanish F4 champion Tsolov joins ART GP in F3
- ^ "ART Grand Prix confirm Nikola Tsolov for 2024 season". FIA_Formula 3® - The Official F3® Website. 10 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ "Tsolov's maiden F3 win in Monaco 'a step out the hole I've been stuck in'". Formula Scout. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Campos Racing sign Nikola Tsolov for the 2025 Formula 3 season". FIA_Formula 3® - The Official F3® Website. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ Wood, Ida (21 September 2023). "GRS to run all-new Eurocup-3 line-up and Spanish F4 debutants at Jerez". Formula Scout. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
- ^ Alonso Lopez, Alejandro (16 April 2024). "Nikola Tsolov and Isaac Barashi to race for GRS in Eurocup-3". Formula Scout. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ Alpine launches new ‘Affiliate’ driver programme
- ^ "Mini and Tsolov join Alpine Academy for 2023 season". FIA_Formula 3 – The Official F3 Website. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ Wood, Ida (5 November 2024). "Nikola Tsolov announces departure from Alpine Academy". Formula Scout. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ Wood, Ida (6 November 2024). "Red Bull add Niklas Schaufler and Nikola Tsolov to junior team for 2025". Formula Scout. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ "Nikola Tsolov". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- ^ kartcom (2018-06-21). "Tsolov Nikola". Kartcom. Retrieved 2022-05-26.
External links
edit- Nikola Tsolov career summary at DriverDB.com