# Nikola Tsolov

Nikola Dimitrov Tsolov (Bulgarian: Никола Димитров Цолов; Bulgarian pronunciation:; 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, before moving to the Red Bull Junior Team.

## Career
### Karting

The Bulgarian lion (a nickname that he gained early in his career) started his karting career in 2016, supported by his father Dimitar. He became Republican champion in 2016 and 2017 in the Bulgarian Mini class. In 2018 he moved to the Italian championships. 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.
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. Tsolov was invited by Fernando Alonso to drive alongside him in the 2021 edition of 24h Endurance race in Dubai, where they finished 3rd.

### 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. On 10 March 2022, Tsolov was announced as a driver of Campos. He started Spanish F4 season at Algarve with double pole. 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. 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. 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. 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.

### 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. 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.

### FIA Formula 3
#### 2023

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

#### 2024

ART Grand Prix retained Tsolov for the 2024 season. 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.

#### 2025

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.

### Eurocup-3
#### 2023

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.

#### 2024

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

### Formula One

Tsolov became a member of the Alpine Affiliate programme in March 2022. On 14 February 2023 he was promoted to a full member of Alpine Academy. On 4 November 2024, Tsolov announced on social media that he would leave the academy with immediate effect.
However, just a day later, he was announced to be joining the Red Bull Junior Team for 2025.

## Karting record
### Karting career summary

| Season | Series | Team | Position |
| 2016 | Bulgarian Republic Championship – Mini | | 1st |
| 2017 | Bulgarian Republic Championship – Mini | | 1st |
| 2017 | ROK Cup Italy – Mini ROK | Speed Kart | 25th |
| 2018 | WSK Open Cup – 60 Mini | Birel ART Racing | 33rd |
| 2018 | WSK Final Cup – 60 Mini | Birel ART Racing | 21st |
| 2019 | South Garda Winter Cup – Mini ROK | Newman Motorsport | 14th |
| 2019 | WSK Super Master Series – 60 Mini | Newman Motorsport | 14th |
| 2019 | Italian Championship – 60 Mini | Team Driver Racing Kart | 12th |
| 2019 | Trofeo delle Industrie – 60 Mini | Team Driver Racing Kart | 11th |
| 2019 | WSK Euro Series – 60 Mini | Team Driver Racing Kart | 11th |
| 2019 | ROK Cup Superfinal – Mini ROK | Team Driver Racing Kart | 12th |
| 2019 | WSK Open Cup – 60 Mini | Team Driver Racing Kart | 1st |
| 2019 | WSK Final Cup – 60 Mini | Team Driver Racing Kart | 13th |
| 2020 | WSK Champions Cup – OKJ | DPK Racing | 11th |
| 2020 | South Garda Winter Cup – OKJ | DPK Racing | 11th |
| 2020 | WSK Super Master Series – OKJ | DPK Racing | NC |
| 2020 | CIK-FIA European Championship – OKJ | DPK Racing | 19th |
| 2020 | WSK Euro Series – OKJ | DPK Racing | 11th |
| 2020 | Champions of the Future – OKJ | DPK Racing | 15th |
| 2020 | CIK-FIA World Championship – OKJ | DPK Racing | 7th |
| 2020 | WSK Open Cup – OK | DPK Racing | 5th |
| 2021 | WSK Champions Cup – OK | DPK Racing | 8th |
| 2021 | WSK Super Master Series – OK | DPK Racing | 8th |
| 2021 | WSK Euro Series – OK | DPK Racing | 4th |
| 2021 | Italian Karting Championship – X30 Senior | DPK Racing | 2nd |
| 2021 | CIK-FIA European Championship – OK | DPK Racing | 4th |
| 2021 | WSK Open Cup – OK | DPK Racing | 5th |
| 2021 | Champions of the Future – OK | DPK Racing | 3rd |
| 2021 | CIK-FIA World Championship – OK | DPK Racing | 5th |
| 2021 | South Garda Winter Cup – OK | DPK Racing | 4th |
| 2021 | WSK Final Cup – OK | DPK Racing | 2nd |
| Sources: ||||

### 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 | DPK Racing | OKJ | 4th | 7th |
| 2021 | 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 |
| 2023 | FIA Formula 3 Championship | ART Grand Prix | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 22nd |
| 2023 | Macau Grand Prix | ART Grand Prix | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | DNF |
| 2023 | 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 |
| 2024 | Eurocup-3 | GRS Team | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 47 | 11th |
| 2025 | Eurocup-3 Spanish Winter Championship | Campos Racing | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22* | 8th* |
| 2025 | FIA Formula 3 Championship | Campos Racing | | | | | | | |

### 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 | 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 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 | MEL SPR 8 | MEL FEA Ret | BHR SPR | BHR 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 | 12th* | 3* |

### 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 | 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.

### Complete Eurocup-3 Spanish Winter 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 | DC | Points |
| 2025 | Campos Racing | JER 1 4 | JER 2 4 | JER 3 Ret | POR 1 | POR 2 | POR 3 | ARA 1 | ARA 2 | ARA 3 | 8th* | 22* |