Motorsport: Marcus Armstrong seeking the double at NZ Grand Prix

NZ Herald

7 Feb, 2018 04:00 PM3 mins to read

Marcus Armstrong leads the Toyota Racing Series heading into this weekend's finale. Photo / Matthew Hansen

Championship leader Marcus Armstrong has a balancing act to get right this week as he aims to win both the Toyota Racing Series and the New Zealand Grand Prix.

The 17-year-old has dominated the one-make championship this summer and finds himself with a healthy but not unassailable lead heading into this weekend's final round at Manfeild. While his main goal is to take out the championship he would dearly love to get his name on the most famous piece of motorsport silverware in New Zealand.

Many of the greatest names in world motorsport have won the New Zealand Grand Prix – McLaren, Amon, Stewart, Brabham, Surtees, Moss and Rosberg to name a few.

In recent years many of New Zealand's leading drivers have won it including Paul Radisich, Craig Baird, Greg Murphy, Fabian Coulthard, Earl Bamber, Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy.
"It would mean a lot to win that race," Armstrong told The Herald. "I have been watching it on television since I was very young.

"I remember watching the Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy race when Nick spun out on the last corner. In particular I remember that one."

Armstrong is torn between putting it all on the line to win the race and banking a well-earned championship in which he has not put a foot wrong.

"If it means winning the race is risking the championship it is going to be a difficult decision for me," Armstrong explained. "The championship is the priority but if I am in a position to win the Grand Prix I can't say I will take it easy.

"The margin is not as big as I would have liked but then it is not extremely close. I think the first two races (of the weekend) are about being in a decent position to make the Grand Prix more comfortable. I don't think we can win the championship before the last race.

"If I am starting off the front row in the Grand Prix it is going to be all on."

The Ferrari Young Driver Academy member has employed a tactic to bank championship points on offer and not fight for position and risk losing out this season.

But while he has executed it perfectly, there is still frustrating bubbling under the surface.

"It has been extremely frustrating at times to just sit there and not do anything," he admitted. "When you try and overtake in these cars it is very risky. It has been painful at times – coming in after the race and standing on the second or third spot of the podium hasn't been ideal.