Armstrong’s after the big prize
But once you start talking the language of motorsport, a switch is flicked and you find yourself talking to a seasoned racing veteran. Someone who has travelled the globe off the back of their craft, someone with years of experience who expects to climb the ladder. Armstrong's motorsport upbringing isn't what you would call typical. Father Rick pedalled in the New Zealand Porsche Carrera Cup against names such as Craig Baird and David Reynolds, meaning that race cars and race tracks were always present. But Armstrong's central interest lay overseas in motor racing's Formula 1 big leagues. Like many other young racing fans, he grew up watching the red cars dominating, but it wasn't one Michael Schumacher doing the winning — it was Kimi Raikkonen. Naturally, the quiet Finnish driver became an idol for Armstrong. “When I was, like, 6 or 7 he was always on top of it. I watched him in Melbourne in 2007 and he won that race. “My older brother and I were both karting at the time. He liked Lewis Hamilton the most at McLaren and I was a Marcus Armstrong grew up watching the red cars dominate the big leagues. Raikkonen fan at Ferrari. So it was a genuine competition between us to see who would win.”
And there are shades of Raikkonen in Armstrong's demeanour. He remained cool and matter- of- fact following his break- out TRS race win, there are no doubts that he's brave behind the wheel, and — most obvious of all — his overalls and race car share the same iconic Ferrari logo.
It was announced late last year that Armstrong was one of a selection of young drivers to be accepted into Ferrari's driver academy — an ultimate training tool that could lead to a drive in Armstrong's coveted Formula 1.
“We were invited to just have a bit of a test at the test track at Fiorano in an F4 car. And I was chosen.
“The boss of Ferrari, Sergio Marchionne, turned up in his helicopter and landed 50m from the track, walked in, and shook everyone’s hand. I was thinking ‘ this is pretty cool’.”
I ask Armstrong whether Formula 1 is the end goal.
“Of course it’s the end goal,” he replies immediately, sharply.
“If I work hard enough and do the right things, there’s no reason why I can’t.”
For the past decade or so, a discussion has brewed in the background between commentators and fans concerning who will be our next driver in the world’s biggest rolling motorsport show.
Drivers such as Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy prompted excited discussions back in their day, too. However, one by one they've had to put F1 ambitions on hold.
“I want to do something a little bit different to them,” says Armstrong. “Make footprints of my own.”