Australian teenager Alex Peroni, the 2016 French Formula Renault Monoplace champion, will make a full-time switch to the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 championship in 2017 after joining Fortec Motorsport.
The seventeen-year-old made a wildcard appearance in the championship at the end of last season at the Portuguese circuit of Estoril and finished an excellent fourth in race one for Italian outfit TS Corse, but now joins British outfit Fortec looking to emulate his countryman Daniel Ricciardo in using Formula Renault as a successful stepping stone to Formula 1.
“Ever since I started racing karts as a seven year-old I’ve dreamed of following the drivers I look up to into Formula 1,” said Peroni. “Daniel Ricciardo raced successfully in Formula Renault on his way to F1, and I hope to do the same.
”Winning the Monoplace Championship last year was incredible, but Eurocup is the next level so I’ll have to work even harder. Having tested with Fortec last year, I’m confident that we can achieve great results together.
“Thanks to Blundstone and RACT, who have been fantastic supporters of my racing career. Now RACT’s partner, United Petroleum, and Renault Australia have come on board to provide the opportunity to make my dream a reality.”
Fortec’s Formula Renault Eurocup manager Martin Young expressed his delight that Peroni would be a part of the team for 2017, where he will join the already confirmed Frank Bird and Aleksey Korneev.
“We are delighted that Alex will be racing with Fortec Motorsport this year,” said Young. “He came to our notice during the Monoplace Championship last year. Winning that series at just 16 years of age was no mean feat.
“Alex’s subsequent performances at the final Eurocup round and our Spa test session showed us that he had the speed to step up to Eurocup. He also worked very well with our race engineers, which was equally important.
“Alex is an exciting young driver. We believe he has the ability to be among the Eurocup front runners and challenge for race wins right from the start of the series.”