Q&A: Simon Armstrong - EXCLUSIVE.

by Russell Atkins

Former Formula 1 engineer Simon Armstrong is one of the key driving forces behind Ultimate Motorsport's newly-launched British F3 bid, and he is confident the young team can turn heads over the course of its maiden campaign in the series.

Ultimate's team principal helped McLaren to three world titles in 1998 and 1999, and now he is bidding to put all the experience and expertise he has gained from almost a decade in the top flight to good use as Ultimate gets set to take on the cream of the British F3 crop. Here he tells us how he foresees the upcoming season panning out...

Q:
Simon, the launch of Ultimate Motorsport's first British F3 machine must have been a very proud moment for you?

Simon Armstrong:
Absolutely; it was the culmination of quite a few months' hard work and it punctuates our entry into British F3.

Q:
Like you say it has been a few months' hard work, but that really is all it has been isn't it, a few months? How difficult has it been over those past few months to put everything together in time?

SA:
Very difficult - there has been a lot of midnight oil and a lot of stress, but some fun too. We always like to keep a good attitude and have a bit of fun while we are doing it all.

Q:
Although Ultimate is such a young team, it does have a wealth of experience in its workforce, not least of whom being yourself. How much will that help?

SA:
It will help enormously. We obviously are a young team, but in the depth we have and the experience of our members we are equipped to take on the challenges that will be presented to us.

Q:
How is everything gelling together so far?

SA:
It's gelling together very well. Our test at Pembrey recently was the first time we went to a circuit under our own steam with our own cars. Arguably we were not as ready as we would have liked to have been, but we were delighted to have done what we did and came away with a list of things to do for the next one.

Q:
So how pleased are you with the way testing has gone so far?

SA:
Very pleased. The cars have performed as they should. They responded well to the changes, and in the variable conditions at Pembrey although the overall chart put us 12th and 13th out of 30-odd cars, we were running as high as the top six in the dry and top four in the wet, so we think we've got a good baseline.

Q:
You will be running the Mygale chassis this season. Dallara has dominated F3 for the past few years, with several other manufacturers having tried and failed to take the fight to them. What makes you believe Mygale can actually make the difference?

SA:
Mygale has taken a very logical process to understand how Dallara works and does what it does, and they have sought to improve on that in every area. To that end they have recruited and got involved some very expert people, particularly on the aerodynamic side. They are comfortable they have got the match of Dallara, and we are comfortable they are there or thereabouts. The next thing now for us is to operate it all as a team to take it onto the next level.

Q:
One of Ultimate's key assets this year must be Esteban Guerrieri on the driving front. He has obviously got a lot of experience, both as a race winner in the F3 Euroseries and in Formula 3000 too. What has he brought to the team and what do you expect of him in 2007?

SA:
What Esteban has brought is, as you say, the experience of a front-running team in the Euroseries. He has a very controlled approach to development driving; he doesn't try to overdo it. He drives at a 95 per cent rate and gives us good quality feedback. I think he is happy with how things are going, and we are very happy with him.

Q:
Regarding Esteban's team-mate, how close are you to a deal with a second driver now? You have tested both Ben Clucas and former British F3 race-winner Maro Engel. How near is that decision?

SA:
That's actually a moving target. We felt we were close a month ago, but since then things have happened and changed. I would like to think after the Snetterton test this week we will be 95 per cent of the way to finalising it.

Q:
Taking an overall view of the campaign ahead, what are your hopes and expectations for what Ultimate can achieve in its debut season of F3?

SA:
We aspire to win, and our expectations are that we will upset a few people in the F3 paddock.