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KIWI ARMSTRONG AIMS TO WIN 2019 TOYOTA SERIES

Saturday 5 January 2019, 7:40AM

By Mark Baker

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Marcus Armstrong is back, aiming to win the 2019 Castrol Toyota Racing Series
Marcus Armstrong is back, aiming to win the 2019 Castrol Toyota Racing Series Credit: Prema Theodore Racing

Battle-hardened after a full year in the FIA European Formula Three Championship and with the Macau Grand Prix Rookie title in hand, Marcus Armstrong is home and aiming to win the 2019 Castrol Toyota Racing Series.

 

The Christchurch-born driver was third in the 2018 TRS, winning two races and standing on the podium ten times across 15 races. The title, he says, should have been his – and this time he aims to make sure.

 

“I’m here to drive and I enjoy all the circuits here in New Zealand. I want to make good on last year’s last lap loss,” he said.

 

Marcus’ father Rick agrees: the TRS is unfinished business for the 18 year old.

 

“This is likely to be the last time we get to see Marcus racing in New Zealand over the five weekends of the summer series, so it’s great for him to be able to put on a show for race fans and friends here. We are very proud to have him in the Auckland City Toyota/Armstrong Motor Group car,” he said.

 

 

 

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The Tatuus single-seaters used by the series are ‘levelers’ in terms of pace and set-up, meaning teams and drivers are evenly matched and Marcus Armstrong says the top drivers will be pushing each other hard at every opportunity.

 

Armstrong junior contested the 2018 CTRS with the M2 Competition team of Mark Pilcher and Jonathan Moury and this year returns to that team where his team-mates include Red Bull protégé Lucas Auer, while South African Raoul Hyman will race for Giles Motorsport..

 

Team-mates are also rivals. Knowing they will spur each other to go faster and faster, Armstrong welcomes their presence.. He believes his advantage, especially at the opening round, is drawn from his extensive karting experience here and in the USA and Europe: an innate ability to learn circuits quickly and to be fast right out of pit lane.

 

“I like TRS. The cars are physically easier to drive than F3. There are less set-up adjustments possible so it’s a case of going out and driving the car. Every team and driver has the same opportunity. [Clement] Novalak last year was very good with the Giles team, and Thomas Randle won the title in 2017 with Victory, so it puts emphasis on the driver,” he said.

 

In the five round 2019 TRS Championship, Armstrong says, the relationship between a driver and his race engineer is critical. Racing for trophies and working in professional team set-ups are a key drawcard for international drivers who would otherwise be using a simulator, locked into gym routines or at best driving lap after lap after lap in testing.

 

“TRS gives us plenty of practice and qualifying time, the cars are quite even, and the five weekends give us tremendous race fitness - so then you work with your engineer and mechanics and go on out and drive it,” he said.

 

 

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“I’m also here to stay fit and make the most of the great weather, because in Europe it’s bloody freezing!”

 

The five week, fifteen race TRS championship will deliver Armstrong race-fit, fast and ready for his next challenge: the new FIA Formula 3 Championship which steps up to new, more powerful cars, has a confirmed 30-car grid and follows the Formula One calendar.

 

For the 2019 CTRS championship, Marcus Armstrong is sponsored by Auckland City Toyota and the Armstrong Motor Group.

 

-end-

 

Issued on behalf of Marcus Armstrong by Veritas Communications Limited

Contact:         Mark Baker

Mobile:           021 2120607

Email:             veritas.nz@xtra.co.nz

 

Marcus Armstrong is on:

 

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/marcusarmstrong_/

 

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/MarcusArmstrng/

 

Marcus Armstrong career details, championship dates and key data

 

Nationality                   New Zealander

Age                               18 years old

Born                             July 29, 2000

Hometown                  Christchurch, New Zealand

https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/marcus-armstrong/

 

Karting highlights

2015

2nd

South Garda Winter Cup - KF

2014

3rd

Kartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - 100cc Junior Yamaha class

2014

1st

Kartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - Junior Rotax class

2013

1st

Rotax Max Challenge NZ - Arai Helmets Junior class

2013

1st

Kartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - 100cc Junior Yamaha class

2013

3rd

SKUSA SuperNationals XVII - S5 Junior Stock Moto sponsored by Mothers Polish

2013

1st

Kartsport NZ South Island Sprint Championship - 100cc Junior Yamaha

2013

1st

Kartsport NZ Schools Championship - Formula Junior

2012

2nd

Kartsport NZ South Island Sprint Championship - 100cc Junior Yamaha

2012

1st

Kartsport NZ Schools Championship - 100cc Junior Restricted

2011

1st

Kartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - Cadet class

2011

2nd

Kartsport NZ Schools Championship - 100cc Junior Restricted

 

Racing highlights

2018

 

Top Rookie, Macau Grand Prix

2018

3rd

Castrol Toyota Racing Series

2017

1st

Italian F.4 Championship Powered by Abarth

2017

2nd

Formula 4 ADAC

 

 

Racing career summary

Races entered

132

Wins

18

Podiums

59

Pole positions

16

Fastest laps

8

Race win percentage

13.6%

Podium percentage

44.7%

 

2019 Castrol Toyota Racing Series

 

 

January 12-13 - Dorothy Smith Memorial Cup – Highlands Motorsport Park, Cromwell

January 19-20 - Spirit Of A Nation Trophy – Teretonga Park, Invercargill

January 26-27 - NZ Motor Cup – Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, Waikato

February 2-3 - Denny Hulme Trophy – Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park, Taupo

February 9-10 - New Zealand Grand Prix – Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon, Feilding

2019 FIA Formula 3 Championship

 

 

 

CIRCUIT

SUPPORTING

DATE

Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya

Spanish Grand Prix

10-12 May

Circuit Paul Ricard

French Grand Prix

21-23 June

Red Bull Ring

Austrian Grand Prix

28-30 June

Silverstone Circuit

British Grand Prix

12-14 July

Hungaroring

Hungarian Grand Prix

3-4 August

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

Belgian Grand Prix

29 Aug - 1 Sep

Autodromo Nazionale Monza

Italian Grand Prix

6-8 September

Sochi Autodrom

Russian Grand Prix

28-29 September