Teen tackles TR86 title

Marcus Armstrong is the newest driver in the Toyota Finance 86  Championship (TR86). The 13-year-old, who is in his first year at St Andrew’s College in Christchurch, scored two fifth places and a seventh at round five last month in Taupo. “We did go there pretty inexperienced,” admits Marcus. “I’d never been there before and I didn’t have a chance to walk the track because I had school the day before.” His father is Rick Armstrong, who owns car dealerships in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Dunedin and Palmerston North. “Help from my dad is quite nice,” says Marcus. “There are no guarantees, but with that and a reasonable amount of talent you can go far. He’s my father so wants me to be the best I can, but if he didn’t think I was good I don’t think he’d have paid for my racing.” Marcus started in karts when he was seven. Last year, he won Formula Junior at the Kartsport NZ Schools Champs, the 100cc Junior Yahama class at the Kartsport South Island Sprint Champs, the Arai Junior class at the Rotax Max Challenge and came third in Junior Stock Moto at the American SKUSA Supernationals. Straight after the TR86 round at Taupo, he flew to Belgium for the first round of the Rotax Max Euro Challenge karting series. Next term, he has races in Italy and Spain. Rick Armstrong is a racer himself but only for fun. His successful business enabled him to get into Porsche GT3 racing in 2001. “I don’t remember him missing a single meeting when he was little,” he says. “When he was three, he’d be there, cleaning the car between races.” Armstrong says it was clear Marcus had talent right from the start. “I held him back a bit because I was worried about his safety. But when he started to drive he was up and running straight away.” Marcus says his time driving in Europe for Dan Holland Racing this year is a dream come true. “They’re one of the top teams,” he told Fairfax. “Karting is so much bigger than it’s portrayed to be. “It’s more competitive than the cars I’m racing. You have 70-odd drivers, 30-odd of whom could win. There’s only two-tenths of a second between the front-runners.” Hampton Downs is Marcus’ next TR86 round and he’s determined to better his fifth placing. “We didn’t change a thing at Taupo, so it was about my driving. Hampton Downs will be a continuation of that.” Formula One is his ultimate goal. Failing that, racing Porsches in Europe may be on the cards. Next year, Marcus hopes to compete in the Toyota Racing Series and will be happy to compete in the TR86 again.