KIWI ARMSTRONG TAKES EARLY POLE IN F3 FIGHTBACK AT NORISRING
Saturday 23 June 2018, 10:41AM
By Mark Baker
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Marcus Armstrong has taken pole in qualifying for this weekend's third round of the 2018 FIA Formula 3 Europe championship.
Edged out of the top five on the 2018 FIA Formula Three points table at the last round, Armstrong (17) knows every finishing position will count this weekend as the championship arrives at the Norisring, in Bavaria.
And pole on a short-lap street circuit is the best possible start to the weekend.
On his first outing at the 2.3 kilometre-long Norisring, Armstrong secured pole position with a blindingly quick lap in the closing minutes of his session on a wet but drying track. The short track required the field to be split in two for qualifying, and in qualifying group B, the New-Zealander, who is racing with an Italian licence, ended up ahead of Jehan Daruvala (Carlin, 0m52.624s) and Mick Schumacher (PREMA Theodore Racing, 0m52.629s), who were second and third respectively.
“At the beginning, I didn’t push too much because I knew that the track was going to improve so the pace would become faster. Then the track improved and everything really came together. I did some very similar lap times in the end so there was still some margin. In the dry, the car feels really good too and even in practice, the potential was there. Now let’s hope for a smooth race tomorrow.”
Combined Practice: P10
Qualifying 1 - Group B: P1
Fastest lap: 48.432
Fastest lap: 52.529
Armstrong was comfortably fastest of all the Prema drivers including Mick Schumacher (52.629) and Robert Shwartzman (54.883).
“Having claimed pole position is a great feeling. The feeling is entirely different from the one I had after my maiden pole position in Formula 4 last year. Back then, it was a big surprise. Now, I have worked very hard for it. My team was great and absolutely faultless. I am really delighted.”
In the opening rounds, Christchurch-born Armstrong has shown flashes of the form that has brought him to the attention of motorsport talent-spotters in New Zealand and internationally, but has had his share of bad luck as well.
He has been at the centre of some bruising incidents in the opening rounds, none of which were of his own doing.
The short Norisring street course holds challenges for the experienced racer and does not favour rookies.
“This is a technical lap, you’re always busy and it’s easy for one small error to become something much bigger, so you have to be constantly on your game.”
Marcus Armstrong races with the Prema PowerTeam and is a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy.