Armstrong denied TRS title with late mishap
Dale Budge
Kiwi Marcus Armstrong had the Toyota Racing Series cruelly ripped from his grasp in a heart-breaking finish to the New Zealand Grand Prix at Manfeild yesterday.
The Kiwi led for the majority of the race and was second, good enough to win the championship, with a handful of laps remaining when a safety car intervention bunched up the field.
Even at that point, it seemed the championship was safely his — the 17-year-old was two places clear of nearest title rival Robert Shwartzman and would have been eyeing a crack at race leader Richard Verschoor in the sprint finish. But the championship that he’s been in control of since the opening round slipped from his fingers when his car momentarily lost power at the restart.
Toyota Racing Series cars have built-in safety modes that protect them when they start over-heating. It is thought that kicked in as Armstrong found himself in the train of traffic behind the safety car.
As the lights went green, he was swamped by the trailing cars and eventually finished seventh.
Dutchman Verschoor won the Grand Prix, while Russian Shwartzman secured second and took the championship win. Frenchman Charles Milesi was third.
Shwartzman, who like Armstrong is part of Ferrari’s Young Driver Academy, had been consistent throughout the championship and took advantage of his M2 Motorsport teammate’s misfortune to grab the title.
“We had got to the last lap and I was disappointed there was not much I could do,” said Shwartzman. “Then suddenly I finish second and I am the champion. It is incredible.”
Earlier, Armstrong made the perfect start from position two to beat Verschoor to the first corner and take the lead of the race.
The former Red Bull junior got by Armstrong in the latter stages of the race with an aggressive dive down the inside at turn one.
Armstrong left the door ajar for him but Verschoor made light contact with the Ferrari Academy driver and forced him off the track. The move was investigated by stewards but no penalty was handed out.
“He made a small mistake and I took my chance,” Verschoor said.
Kiwi Taylor Cockerton suffered a mechanical failure late in the race, prompting the safety car intervention.
Veteran Kenny Smith finished 12th in his 47th attempt at the New Zealand Grand Prix. The 76-year-old three-time champion was a one-off starter this weekend.