Marcus Armstrong Partners With Dad For SIEC Championship in New Zealand

In a move that feels both heartwarming and slightly like a plot from a feel-good sports movie, IndyCar driver Marcus Armstrong is taking a little detour from the high-octane world of American open-wheel racing. He’s heading back home to New Zealand, not for a vacation, but to team up with his old man, Rick Armstrong, for a special one-off race.

An Armstrong Family Affair

Fresh off a career-best season where he actually looked like a serious contender, finishing 8th in the championship, Marcus Armstrong is set to compete in the South Island Endurance Championship. It’s not exactly the Indianapolis 500, but for Kiwi motorsport fans, it’s a rare chance to see one of their own—a guy who made it to the big leagues—rip it up on home soil.

Armstrong, who is usually focused on mastering everything from superspeedways to unforgiving street circuits, seems genuinely thrilled. “Some of my earliest racing memories were of Porsche cup cars – watching my Dad race,” he said. “It will be cool to share the car with him and race in front of a kiwi crowd.” Even after a grueling IndyCar season, the itch to race is real. “Although the season has only just finished, I’m itching to get back in a race car,” he added. Spoken like a true addict.

His co-driver isn’t just some weekend warrior, either. Rick Armstrong is the reigning GT New Zealand Open Class Champion and is apparently chasing a “three-peat.” So, this isn’t just a casual father-son track day; there’s some serious hardware on the line. Rick sees it as a “fantastic warm-up” before his own season kicks off. Racing with your son who competes at the pinnacle of motorsport? Yeah, that’s one way to get your pre-season prep in.

From IndyCar Ovals to New Zealand Corners

The Armstrong duo will be behind the wheel of a brand-new Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Car. For the uninitiated, this is a pure, unapologetic racing machine. It’s got a 4.0-liter flat-six engine that screams to the tune of 510 horsepower, and it’s stripped of anything that doesn’t make it go faster. They’ll even be running the #66, the same number Marcus sports in IndyCar, which is a nice touch.

The venue for this family reunion is Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell, a track known for its dramatic elevation changes and a layout that demands respect. It’s a far cry from the ovals of Indianapolis, but it’s a perfect stage to test skill and strategy in a three-hour endurance format. The event is more than just a race; organizers have confirmed that fans will get a chance to meet Marcus. For Armstrong,  swapping his Meyer Shank Racing Honda for a Porsche for a race with his dad is awesome.

The Journey of Marcus Armstrong

It’s easy to forget the path Marcus Armstrong has taken. He left New Zealand as a young teenager to chase the European dream, a journey that’s broken countless aspiring drivers. He caught the eye of the Ferrari Driver Academy, won the Italian F4 championship, and finished runner-up in F3. But his F2 career was a grind, with three consecutive 13th-place finishes before he made the gutsy move to America.

His career is a testament to the influence of his father. Now, after establishing himself in IndyCar, he gets to share a cockpit with the man who helped shape him. It’s a full-circle moment that adds a layer of genuine human emotion to the often sterile world of professional motorsport. It’s a testament to his passion, a cool story for fans, and a pretty special moment for a father and son.