Christchurch single seater driver Marcus Armstrong gets his 2018 Northern Hemisphere campaign underway this weekend at the first round of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. The 10-round championship will see teams and drivers race in eight different countries in the support programme of DTM (German touring cars), the Blancpain GT Series and the FIA World Endurance Championship.
“This season is going to be a good one. There are a number of championship contenders and all the teams and engine manufacturers want to stamp their claim on this F3, seeing as it’s the last year,” commented Armstrong. “My intention is to be champion in my rookie season. If there is a year that a rookie can do it, I believe it’s this year,”
The series will start its final season in the current form with a classic round between the streets and sidewalks of the historical southern French city, home of the eponymous Grand Prix which dates back to 1901.
Returning to a championship that gave so much success to the team in the past, PREMA Theodore Racing will field an increased line-up for 2018 consisting of five cars and featuring four returns and a new addition.
After a positive 2017 season, Mick Schumacher and Guanyu Zhou will be back for their second straight year with the team. The young German is aiming to make an impact and carry on the positives of his rookie year, while the Chinese racer has now a great amount of experience to take advantage of. Zhou will be again part of the Ferrari Driver Academy, and will be joined by two other young prospects coming from the Italian manufacturer’s developmental ranks, Marcus Armstrong and Robert Shwartzman (winner of the 2018 Toyota Racing Series).
The New Zealander won the 2017 Italian F4 title under the Prema banner, while the Russian impressed in last season’s Eurocup Formula Renault championship: they are both ready to step up right from the start.
Weekend Timetable
Friday, May 11th
10:40 – Practice 1
11:25 – Practice 2
16:05 – Qualifying 1
Saturday, May 12th
11:10 – Race 1
16:05 – Qualifying 2
Sunday, May 13th
11:10 – Race 2
15:25 – Race 3
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