Marcus Armstrong has plenty of momentum to carry into this weekend’s Round 2 of FIA Formula 2 Championship at Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria having taken P2 podium at the Opening Round 7 days prior. Racing at same iconic venue this weekend, Armstrong has certainly gained great confidence boost racing under ART Grand Prix Team in his debut F2 season.
In quite remarkable rise to race FIA Formula 2 Championship at 19 years of age, the ambitious and talented Kiwi has achieved ‘what is needed’ to open the right doors for race opportunities with top of the list placement in Ferrari Driver Academy at end of 2016 season.
Grass-roots racing back home in Karting from 10 years of age, Marcus then made progression through Motorsport ranks- 2014 competing in NZ’s Formula Ford Championship, 2016 step-up to F3 and Formula Renault- culminating in a trial at Fiorano circuit in October ‘016 for selection of placement with Ferrari Driver Academy.
If there is a bonus from living down-under-side of world- it is seasonal advantage to be able to race back home in New Zealand while Europe is holed up through-out their winter. And, for sure this has played nicely into Marcus’s hands heading into ‘017 > seasons.
Being able to gain both seat-and-race time competing in NZ’s Toyota Racing Series- winning 3 races early in ‘017 not only set-up the focused driver to go on and win Italian F4 Series but also cement all important profile credibility within professional environment racing under Prema PowerTeam.
Notwithstanding challenges of making his name command attention within Formula racing industry, Marcus double-dialed successful results the following year racing Toyota Racing Series NZ in early ‘018 finishing 2nd, followed by FIA F3 debut season to win race at Norisring circuit, Germany- full credit to Armstrong for delivering top results.
2019 delivered equally impressive results with Marcus taking runner-up spot in Toyota Racing Series NZ with 5 wins before taking on board goals to seal podiums in FIA Formula 3 Championship- and all achieved in style. Taking 3 Round wins, 4 further podiums, one pole and 4 fastest race laps to stand 2nd in 2019 FIA F3 Championship- paved victory for the enterprising Kiwi heading into 2020.
With total of 9 drivers within 2020 Ferrari Driver Academy, Marcus is indeed amongst the best in the world in terms of support to gain much coveted race opportunities now, and for the future. Off the back of Marcus’s 2nd in FIA Formula 2 Championship Opening Round Feature Race at Spielberg last weekend, a pathway has been laid to take the 2020 ART Grand Prix driver through to successful conclusion come Round 9- confirmed- on September 11-13th at Mugello.
At date and time of writing, FIA Formula 3 Championship Round 2 Free Practice and Qualifying was completed with Marcus standing in 9th FP and 12th in Qualifying. Top 19 drivers were separated by 1 second, track temperature hit 52 degrees, Armstrong peaking at 206.534 kph along with running softer tyre compound for this weekend- and tomorrow- could be rain.
FIA Formula 2 Round 2 Spielberg July 10-12th Round 3 Budapest July 17-19th Round 4 Silverstone July 31- August 2nd Round 5 Silverstone August 7-9th Round 6 Barcelona August 14-16th Round 7 Spa-Francorchamps August 28-30th Round 8 Monza September 4-6th Round 9 Mugello September 11-13th.
Words: Sharon Cox.
Comments are closed.