F2 driver keen on karting comeback
The bar at the local karting scene will be set a little higher the next few weeks as Formula 2 racer Marcus Armstrong returns to his roots.
The former Ferrari Driver Academy and DAMS F2 driver has finally made it back to New Zealand and is looking forward to taking on the best Kiwi karters.
“It’s been too long [away from New Zealand]; it’s been around two years since I’ve been home,” Armstrong told the Weekend Herald.
“I spent some time with my Mum in Christchurch, and it’s the first time I’ve stayed at home since I was 14,” said the 21-year-old. “It was great to catch up with all my mates and old school friends as well.
“It’s going to be awesome doing some karting. I’m doing the Auckland City of Sails event and the RK Trophy in Hamilton. I love it and also love the people you meet all over the world.
“Karting is the best way to stay sharp because training in F2 is so limited. The higher you get up the ladder, the less driving you do. In karting, you can hack around all day long if you want.
“If I was 15 and 16 and Mitch Evans had come back to race karts, I would have given everything racing against him. This time, it’s me coming back and I don’t expect it to be easy.”
Armstrong joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2017 and had instant success, winning that year’s Italian Formula 4 championship.
He was then bumped up to the European F3 series, where he finished fifth in 2018, and then moved into the FIA F3 championship, where he placed second in 2019, as well as second in that year’s Toyota Racing Series.
“It was a mutual parting of the ways with the [Ferrari Driver] Academy and we left on good terms and that’s important. I did a lot with them and they did a lot for me and there’s definitely no bad blood.
“There wasn’t a chance for me to go into F1 and the line of drivers either in F1 or waiting is pretty long, and I got backed up a bit for whatever reason.
“I feel leaving the Academy is a fresh start for me, and that’s important, as it’s the mindset that’s most important in motorsport.
“I did almost 60 days of F1 development with them last year, so I got to be fully immersed in what they were doing, which I’m very grateful for. They trusted me, which was very rewarding for me, and I made some great relationships that will remain with me a long time.”
Armstrong has contested the F2 championship the past two seasons with first ART and then last year with DAMS. While not setting the world on fire for a number of reasons beyond his control, he won in Saudi Arabia last year and achieved three podium finishes over the two seasons.
“Last season was dominated by Prema. In F2, there are so many variables with the car. Some days, things work, and on others, they don’t.
“In Saudi Arabia, the car was on fire. Whenever the weather was hot, my car would turn on like a light switch, but when it was colder, we would lose performance compared to others.
“It was difficult to get the car into the window and then trying to get the tyres right was also difficult. Still, it was an awesome experience.”
Armstrong knows he has unfinished business in F2 and still has his sights set on a Formula One career. Nothing has been confirmed but it looks likely he will be in the category again for 2022.
The Kiwi took part in all three days of the endof-season test at Abu Dhabi last month with Hitech Grand Prix and remains on the books of Nicolas
Todt’s All Road Management.