Armstrong Takes Lady Wigram Trophy

Marcus Armstrong had a brilliant day in the Castrol Toyota Racing Series, Winning both of the races and with all that the Lady Wigram Trophy at his home circuit Ruapuna Park in Christchurch.

Armstrong got the jump from the outside of the front row and went on to lead all 15 Laps in Race 2 and All the 20 in the third Race for the Lady Wigram trophy.

Marcus just managed to move across and Cover M2 Competition Team-Mate Robert Shawartzman of Russia at the beginning of the latter encounter before the safety car was called due to Aucklander Reid Harker remaining stuck on the Grid.

Race 1 winner Richard Verschoor jumped Shawartzman at the restart but couldn't keep in touch with the leader Armstrong and alternately pitted with six laps remaining due to a puncture.

That Left Shawartzman alone on his run to second position, He was nearly eight seconds ahead of James Pull.

Invercargill driver Brendon Leitch bombarded Pull for a few laps after the Restart but he couldn't find a way past and finished fourth, Leitch's best result of the Round after a clutch problem at the beginning of Race 1 and a suspension failure in Race 2.

Brendon Leitch was one of several to suffer that fate in the day's early encounter, the most notable being Pull when he slowed whilst running in second.

That problem helped Verschoor to finish Race 2 in second as Shawartzman would take third.

Armstrong Leads the series heading into Round 2 at Teretonga park next weekend.

Toyota Racing Series-Round 1-Ruapuna-Race 2- 15 laps- (Top 10)

1-M Armstrong (Christchurch)

2- R Verschoor (Netherlands)

3- R Shawartzman (Russia)

4- T Cockerton (Pukekohe)

5- C Ming (Guyana)

6- J-M Correa (United States)

7- C Milesi (France)

8- R Harker (Albany)

9- R Yardley (Christchurch)

10- C Novalak (United States)

Lady Wigram Trophy Race- 20 laps- (Top 10)

1- M Armstrong

2- R Shawartzman

3- J Pull

4- B Leitch

5- C Milesi

6- C Novalak

7- C Das

8- J-M Correa

9- R Yardley

10- R Harker

Championship Standings (Top 10)

1- Armstrong (210)

2- Shawartzman (194)

3- Verschoor (142)

4- Pull (139)

5- Novalak (132)

6- Milesi (127)

7- Cockerton (125)

8- Ming (119)

9- Correa (112)

10- Harker (108)