Armstrong to battle at the Hungaroring this weekend

Kiwi Marcus Armstrong competes at the second round of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship at the Hungaroring this weekend looking to move up the points table where he currently sits in fifth.

The 4.381-kilometre F1 circuit located not far from Hungary’s capital Budapest will stage the fourth, fifth and sixth race of the season.

Armstrong came away from the opening round of the Championship with a podium finish in the second race of the weekend. The Ferrari junior driver (PREMA Theodore Racing) finished third behind Frenchman Sacha Fenestraz (Carlin) with Alex Palou (Hitech Bullfrog GP) in second at the street circuit at Pau in the south of France.

Guanyu Zhou and Ralf Aron (both PREMA Theodore Racing) have got more F3 experience at the Hungaroring than all the other drivers as they both make the trip to race weekends with FIA Formula 3 European Championship in Hungary for the third time.

Ralf Aron arguably has the fondest memories of the Hungarian GP circuit. The Estonian won two years ago at the circuit that was opened in 1986 and finished second in one of the other races. His Chinese team-mate, Ferrari Junior Guanyu Zhou, came third in one of last year’s Hungary rounds – and Jehan Daruvala (Carlin) also could take part in an FIA F3 European Championship podium ceremony in Hungary. The Indian supported by the Force India Formula One Team secured a third place in 2017.

In Pau, Aron, Zhou and Daruvala also made a successful start into the 2018 season. While Daruvala clinched a third place, Zhou and Aron both won a race. But not only the experienced drivers succeeded in shining at the traditional and challenging street circuit at the foot of the Pyrenees. The rookies also delivered in great style. With Sacha Fenestraz (Carlin), Armstrong (PREMA Theodore Racing) and Enaam Ahmed (Hitech Bullfrog GP), three of the newcomers made it to the podium of one of the races.

Thanks to his win in round two, Frenchman Fenestraz even travels to Hungary as championship leader. But he can’t rest on his laurels as Aron follows just 2.5 points behind.

Points Table (Top 5)
1 Fenestraz 37
2 Aron 34,5
3 Ahmed 27
4 Zhou 25
5 Armstrong 25