It was a case of ‘so-near-yet-so-far’ for young Kiwi karter Marcus Armstrong at the final round of this year’s WSK Master Series at Adria in Italy on Sunday.
The 15-year-old works Tony Kart driver from Christchurch was lying ninth in the combined KZ/KZ2 class Final at the big end-of-series meeting when his kart’s engine seized just five laps from the end.
“Not the fairytale end to the series we had hoped for,” Armstrong said from the track, “but everything is piecing itself together for the bigger upcoming races.”
Indeed. Armstrong was again quick from the get-go at Adria, setting the ninth quickest time in his first practice session and his qualifying practice one. That saw him 18th quickest (out of a field of 40) in the qualifying order.
He then topped the time sheets in the Saturday warm-up before finishing 12th in his first qualifying heat and ninth in his second for 14th overall heading to the Pre-Finals.
He was then fifth quickest in both the Sunday warm-up and Pre-Final and was lying ninth in the Final when his kart’s engine seized.
Armstrong’s Tony Kart teammate Marco Ardigo from Italy dominated the KZ class at the final series round, qualifying on pole and winning his heats, Pre-Finals and the Final.
Fellow multi-time former world champion David Fore was second, Frenchman Jeremy Iglesias third.
Ardigo also won the series title in the KZ class with Armstrong 15th.
Armstrong’s next event is the second round of the German championship at Ampfing over the June 11-12 weekend..
