Nikola Tsolov
Tsolov in Eurocup-3 Valencia 2023
NationalityBulgarian
Born (2006-12-21) 21 December 2006 (age 17)
Sofia, Bulgaria
FIA Formula 3 Championship career
Debut season2023
Current teamART Grand Prix
Car number25
Starts18 (18 entries)
Wins0
Podiums0
Poles0
Fastest laps0
Best finish22nd in 2023
Previous series
2023
2023
2022
2018–21		Eurocup-3
FR Middle East Championship
F4 Spanish Championship
Karting
Championship titles
2022F4 Spanish Championship

Nikola Dimitrov Tsolov (Bulgarian: Никола Димитров Цолов; Bulgarian pronunciation: [ˈnikɔɫa dimiˈtrɔf ˈt͡sɔɫɔf]; born 21 December 2006) is a Bulgarian racing driver who is the champion of the 2022 F4 Spanish Championship and a member of the Alpine Academy. He is set to race with ART Grand Prix in the 2024 FIA Formula 3 Championship.

Career

Karting

The Bulgarian lion (a nickname that he gained early in his career)[1] started his karting career in 2016, supported by his father Dimitar.[2] He became Republican champion in 2016 and 2017 in the Bulgarian Mini class. In 2018 he moved to the Italian championships.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5] Tsolov was invited by Fernando Alonso to drive alongside him in the 2021 edition of 24h Endurance race in Dubai, where they finished 3rd.[6][7]

Formula 4

2022

After 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.[8] On 10 March 2022, Tsolov was announced as a driver of Campos.[9] He started Spanish F4 season at Algarve with double pole.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14]

Formula Regional Middle East

In 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.[15] 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.[16]

FIA Formula 3

2023

In September 2022, Tsolov took part in the FIA Formula 3 post-season test, driving for ART Grand Prix.[17][18][19] On 19 December it was announced that he will be one of ART Grand Prix drivers for the 2023 season.[20] Tsolov scored two points finishes in the sprint races in Spa-Francorhamps and Monza. He finished the season in 22nd place.

2024

Despite a poor debut season, ART Grand Prix kept their faith and retained Tsolov for the 2024 season.[21]

Eurocup-3

Shortly after his FIA Formula 3 season, Tsolov contested in the 2023 Eurocup-3 season with GRS Team.[22]

Formula One

Tsolov became a member of the Alpine Affiliate programme in March 2022.[23] On 14 February 2023 he was promoted to a full member of Alpine Academy.[24]

Karting record

Karting career summary

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:[25][26]

Complete CIK-FIA Karting European Championship results

(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

Year Team Class Quali Heats Main race
2020 Spain DPK Racing OKJ 4th 7th
2021 Spain DPK Racing OK 7th 5th

Racing record

Racing career summary

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

Complete F4 Spanish Championship results

(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

(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

Year Team Car Qualifying Quali Race Main race
2023 France ART Grand Prix Dallara F3 2019 15th 13th DNF

Complete FIA Formula 3 Championship results

(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
 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
 HUN
SPR
 HUN
FEA
 SPA
SPR
 SPA
FEA
 MNZ
SPR
 MNZ
FEA
 TBD TBD

Complete Eurocup-3 results

(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 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

* Season still in progress.

References

  1. ^ Момче от България с реални шансове да бъде пилот от Формула 1
  2. ^ Талантливият новобранец
  3. ^ Българчето, което впечатли легендата Фернандо Алонсо
  4. ^ Никола Цолов: Голямата ми мечта е "Формула 1"
  5. ^ The top karting stars of 2021
  6. ^ 15-годишен прославя България в картинга в отбора на Алонсо
  7. ^ Никола Цолов: Искам да съм първият българин във Формула 1
  8. ^ Alonso starts A14 management; reveals Novalak & Tsolov as first signings
  9. ^ Bulgaria’s Nikola Tsolov joins Campos Racing in Spanish F4
  10. ^ Nikola Tsolov starts Spanish F4 season at Algarve with double pole
  11. ^ Alonso protege Nikola Tsolov wins in first weekend in cars in Spanish F4
  12. ^ Crónica: Nikola Tsolov se confirma como favorito en la segunda cita de la Fórmula 4
  13. ^ Никола Цолов с четвърта поредна победа във Формула 4
  14. ^ Никола Цолов стана шампион на Формула 4 Испания
  15. ^ Никола Цолов ще вземе участие в три старта на Яс Марина
  16. ^ Никола Цолов завърши 15-ти в Абу Даби
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ "Jerez post-season testing Day 2 entry list". FIA_Formula 3 – The Official F3 Website. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  19. ^ "Jerez post-season testing Day 3 entry list". FIA_Formula 3 – The Official F3 Website. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  20. ^ Spanish F4 champion Tsolov joins ART GP in F3
  21. ^ "ART Grand Prix confirm Nikola Tsolov for 2024 season". FIA_Formula 3® - The Official F3® Website. 10 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ Alpine launches new ‘Affiliate’ driver programme
  24. ^ "Mini and Tsolov join Alpine Academy for 2023 season". FIA_Formula 3 – The Official F3 Website. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  25. ^ "Nikola Tsolov". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  26. ^ kartcom (2018-06-21). "Tsolov Nikola". Kartcom. Retrieved 2022-05-26.

External links

Sporting positions Preceded byDilano van 't Hoff F4 Spanish ChampionshipChampion 2022 Succeeded byTBD
Teams and drivers that competed in the 2024 FIA Formula 3 Championship
ART Grand Prix
Alpine F1 Team
Categories