Photo: Alex Peroni
FIA Formula 3 star Alex Peroni has secured the budget to move to Indy Lights, and will do so in a entry co-run by Carlin and Jay Howard Driver Development.
Carlin raced in the championship from 2015 to 2017 and took the 2016 drivers’ title with Ed Jones before it moved up into IndyCar. It also ran ex-Formula 1 driver Max Chilton in its first season.
JHDD won the 2020 USF2000 title with Christian Rasmussen and bought two of Indy Lights’ Dallara IL-15 ahead of a planned entry into the series this year before it was cancelled. It will now pool its resources with Carlin to attack Indy Lights with both cars, and Peroni – who had been promoting his search for sponsorship to enter the series – is its first signing.
“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.
“I’m so thankful to [sponsors] Blundstone and the state of Tasmania for their continued support and for allowing me to follow my dream.
“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.”
Peroni raced in FIA F3 for two years with Campos Racing – impressing by taking a trio of podiums in his second season after his first year was curtailed by a back-breaking shunt at Monza.
Carlin boss Trevor Carlin added: “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 IndyCar Series and it was always our aim to return to the junior formula once we had become more settled in IndyCar.
“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 F3 Championship what he is capable of and I can’t wait to see his potential evolve in the Indy Lights field.”