Armstrong keen to return home for summer’s TRS
Impressive racer Marcus Armstrong is likely to return to New Zealand for this summer’s Toyota Racing Series.
The 16-year-old, who was the leading Kiwi in the single seater series earlier this year, has been racing Formula 4 in Europe over winter while also attending the Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) in Italy.
Although he’s yet to lock-in a drive, Armstrong is hopeful that everything will fall into place.
“I would love to be back,” he said. “It was a fantastic experience and I really enjoyed it.
“We just have to wait a little bit and see if I can [return] or not because obviously it is quite a big time to be away from Europe. I am going to push to do it. It is in my home country and it is great fun.
“I’m not sure whether or not we will but I will push for it.”
Armstrong, considered New Zealand’s best Formula One hope, was one of three Kiwis [along with Taylor Cockerton and Brendon Leitch] who took part in the 2017 series. After a change in management of the series, TRS officials have started talking to drivers earlier this season in a bid to make things run as smoothly as possible and they would dearly love to have the young Aucklander locked away as soon as possible — but Armstrong is in no hurry.
“I am already back in contact with M2 competition [the team he drove for in 2017]. We stay in touch because we are good mates now with all my engineers and mechanics,” Armstrong explained.
“It is all down to my side just to confirm everything. “We have got plenty of time.” Meanwhile, he continues to get more experienced racing against the best young talent in Europe and working out with Ferrari on all aspects of his driving.
“With the FDA, I live in Maranello and every day is scheduled,” Armstrong explained.
“It is all towards the goal of winning races. Sharpening up everything in terms of fitness, mental training, simulators, everything you could imagine.
“It is a dream come true.”