Alex Peroni is set to contest the most prestigious race for Formula 1 aspirants – the Macau Grand Prix – later this year. Peroni, 19, has confirmed his entry in the classic event, held on a daunting 6.1km street circuit winding through the Chinese special administrative region, on November 14-17.
The Macau Grand Prix has been a stand-alone fixture on the Formula 3 calendar since 1983; not part of a national or international championship, but rated by Formula 1 team managers as a form guide of future stars.
Invariably the winner has gone on to success in top-level motorsport, most notably Ayrton Senna (1983), Michael Schumacher (1990) and David Coulthard (1991).
This year’s Macau Grand Prix will be the first one conducted for the faster new generation FIA Formula 3 car. As in this year’s FIA Formula 3 Championship, Peroni will drive at Macau with the Spanish team Campos Racing.
“My total focus for now and the next 6 months is the FIA Formula 3 Championship. That’s my number one priority and I am looking forward to the next round in France in a couple of weeks’ time. However, it’s amazing to know I will then have the opportunity to race at Macau for the Grand Prix. “Every up-and-coming driver in the world wants to win the Macau Grand Prix more than any other race on the Formula 3 calendar!” Peroni said.
Peroni is excited about racing the latest Formula 3 car with DRS, a cockpit-activated rear wing flap specifically designed for overtaking.
“Macau isn’t a typical street circuit,” he said. “It’s more than twice as long as Pau, and almost double Monaco, but while about half of the lap is tight and twisting like those circuits, the rest of it is two long, wide straights connected by a high-speed corner.
“With DRS, you can tuck into another driver’s slipstream down a straight and then pull out to overtake before the corner at the end.
“It’s like a game of chess at 300km/h – you have to plan to be in the right position at the right time!”
“I’m so grateful to my loyal sponsors –Blundstone, RACT, Richardson Devine Marine and the Tasmanian Government – and my private supporters for this opportunity. Without them I wouldn’t be contesting the Grand Prix or FIA Formula 3Championship.”
