Armstrong steps up to F2 ranks
Christchurch-raised Marcus Armstrong’s motor racing career will be just one step away from the pinnacle when he makes his Formula Two debut at the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend.
The 19-year-old, who was second in last year’s Formula Three championship, is driving for the Italian ART Grand Prix team this season.
Formula Two races take place over the same weekend and at the same circuits as Formula One rounds and like F1, the season has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
There are just eight rounds confirmed, starting this weekend behind closed doors at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg and culminating in Monza, Italy, on September 6.
Armstrong has proved his abilities at every category he’s been in, but F2 will be his biggest task yet and if he proves himself at this level, the next jump is to Formula One. It’s a challenge Armstrong is up for, even though it’s been a long time since he was last racing.
‘‘It’s difficult to put an expectation on it, obviously everyone’s in the same boat because we haven’t had much on-track preparation,’’ Armstrong told Stuff.
‘‘In terms of results, I’m feeling quite confident for the weekend, the weather is looking a bit dodgy, but that always spices things up and there are a few details of the technical aspect of the car that are new.’’
Armstrong will race twice each weekend, in a sprint race and featured race, which will be shown on Spark Sport in
‘‘It’s a good jump from last year, in terms of car performance.’’ Marcus Armstrong
New Zealand, alongside its Formula One coverage.
There is a significant difference from Formula Three to Formula Two, with the latter looking a lot more like F1 cars and Armstrong will have to make that adjustment.
‘‘It’s a good jump from last year, in terms of car performance,’’ he said.
‘‘Last year in Formula Three, we were quite privileged by how good the tyres were, whereas in F2, they’re easier to degredate and easier to overheat, so you have to be careful and drive with more maturity than in Formula Three.
‘‘I’ve raced with a lot of the drivers before, there are only a handful of drivers I don’t know, so on that side of it I’m not particularly worried.
‘‘But the level will be very high and I’m looking forward to racing against them.’’
Armstrong spent most of the global coronavirus lockdown in New Zealand, leaving for Italy in late May.
He first had to go into quarantine for
14-days once arriving there, then began training.
‘‘In Italy, apart from the fact that everyone is wearing masks, it feels like life as usual in Maranello,’’ he said.
‘‘We haven’t been racing for a while, so the chances of people getting a bit out of control could happen,’’ he said.
‘‘The Red Bull Ring is a place where there is usually a lot of action.
‘‘But at the same time, the drivers in
F2 are generally quite experienced, so I can’t imagine there will be too much.’’