Nikola Tsolov

Nikola Tsolov
Tsolov in Eurocup-3 Valencia 2023
Nationality	Bulgarian
Born	(2006-12-21) 21 December 2006 (age 17) 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

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.

Tsolov was a member of the Alpine Academy from 2022 until 2024.^[1]

The 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]

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.^[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]

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.^[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]

In 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.

ART 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]

Tsolov 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]

Shortly 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]

Alongside his FIA Formula 3 campaign, Tsolov signed with GRS Team to compete in the full 2024 Eurocup-3 season.^[26]

Tsolov 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]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

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

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

† – Driver did not finish the race but was classified, as he completed more than 90% of the race distance.
* Season still in progress.

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

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate points for the fastest lap of top ten finishers)

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

* Season still in progress.

• Nikola Tsolov career summary at DriverDB.com