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STRONG FIGHTBACK PUTS ARMSTRONG BACK INTO F3 TITLE CONTENTION

Monday 10 September 2018, 1:19PM

By Mark Baker

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Fighting back at the 'Ring
Fighting back at the 'Ring Credit: Prema Theodore Racing

At the forefront of what may be the most fiercely contested Formula Three championship ever, Christchurch teenager Marcus Armstrong has put in a strong fightback to lever his way into title contention.

A storming drive from 18th to sixth in the first race at the  Nürburgring on Saturday was followed yesterday by strong fourth and fifth placings to consolidate third place in the points table.

“The car was better today compared to yesterday and I felt good. In the final race, our start was very good but we were forced into going to the outside because we had so much momentum. If I maybe had a worse start, I would have been better off in the first few corners. Not an ideal weekend, but life goes on and there are six races to go with lots of potential.”

Emerging now as a key championship rival is Armstrong’s team-mate Mick Schumacher, son of multiple F1 World Champion Michael, who won all three of the weekend’s races. Schumacher is now second on point and close behind UK driver Dan Ticktum with two rounds – six races – left to run.

Marcus Armstrong is the first New Zealander to be inducted into the Ferrari Driver Academy and races under an Italian licence for F3 champion team Prema.

Last year, driving for Prema, Armstrong won the Italian Formula 4 Championship, was second in the German Formula 4 championship and in January 2018, racing with local team M2 Motorsport, was third in the Toyota Racing Series.

Prema Theodore Racing currently leads the teams' championship by 118.5 points over Motopark.