Peroni Re-groups In America
Alex Peroni’s grand prix dream is over.
Despite winning the Peter Brock medal and scoring some promising Formula 3 results this year including three podiums, his future is now in the USA.
Like so many other Aussies before him, Peroni’s efforts to make it to the top of global motorsport have stalled and he has been forced off the single-seater ladder to Formula One.
But, unlike many of the others – from Larry Perkins to Russell Ingall, and Marcos Ambrose to James Courtney and Anton De Pasquale – Peroni will not be coming home to jump into Supercars.
Instead, his plan is to try and forge a career in America and follow the path driven successfully in IndyCars by Will Power.
The first stop for Peroni is the Indy Lights championship, where both Paul Morris and Jason Bright once tested the opportunity for a career in the US.
Peroni is joining the highly-rated Carlin team in Indy Lights, as it returns to the series after concentrating on its graduation to the top-tier IndyCar championship.
“I’m seriously pumped to be joining the 2021 Indy Lights field and to be doing it with a team such as Carlin who I know have been successful in the series before and of course I know well from Europe”, said Peroni.
His new focus comes thanks to continued backing from his home state, Tasmania, and Blundstone boots.
“No doubt there will be a lot to learn in terms of both the car and the different circuits, but I am absolutely ready for the challenge and know I will have a great team behind me to bring me up to speed.”
Carlin operates from Delray Beach in Florida and the Lights program will be fun alongside the IndyCar team, with former racer Jay Howard using it as the top run of his personal driver-development program.
Team boss Trevor Carlin said the Indy Lights program is a major focus as he welcomed Peroni.
“We’re very proud that Alex and his sponsors have chosen Carlin as the team to take his first steps into US racing. We know, having raced against him in the immensely competitive FIA Formula 3 Championship, what he is capable of and I can’t wait to see his potential evolve in the Indy Lights field,” he said.
“We’re really excited to be back in Indy Lights having been so successful in the series in the past. It’s a fantastic series to prepare drivers for the NTT IndyCar Series and it was always our aim to return to the junior formula once we had become more settled in IndyCar.”
