Tasmanian Alex Peroni heading back to Spain for F3 racing after COVID-19 shutdown

Tasmania’s young motorsport ace has been “bored out of his brain” waiting for the F3 season to start, keen to get back on the track after his horrific crash in Italy last year.

MOTOR racing young gun Alex Peroni is packing his bags for Europe this week ready to compete in the FIA Formula 3 championship and most importantly, the first race since his horrific crash in Italy late last year.

An immigration holdup threatened to stop Peroni, 20, from catching his flight to Spain on Thursday but it was sorted at the weekend, much to the family’s relief.

Peroni was in Spain until March when the world went into coronavirus lockdown and all sports were put on hold.

Alex Peroni motor racing driver is about to depart Hobart for Spain to make the return to racing in the FIA Formula 3 championship in Europe. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

He returned to the safety of the family home on Hobart’s Eastern Shore from his Spanish base in Valencia, while Spain, where his outfit Team Campos is based, had a dreadful time of the pandemic.

“I don’t think anyone in our team got it,” Peroni said.

“Where Campos is based, in a little town outside Valencia, was not too bad.

“Valencia wasn’t too great.”

Peroni was sweating over the past two weeks with the Department of Home Affairs refusing to confirm his application to leave the country.

It was sorted at the weekend and Alex slept easier knowing he can board his flight on Thursday and meet Team Campos’ demand he return by the end of the week.

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“I’ve been bored out of my brain here so I’m super-excited to get back into it,” he said.

“I’ve been training, trying to keep fit, keeping in contact with my trainer over there, and also my trainer down here has been helping a lot.

“I feel fitter, which is good that I’ve improved on that front.

“I did need to because after the crash I had a couple of months off recovering and I still wasn’t back to full fitness by the first round of testing.

“With this break I’ve been able to get back to full fitness.”

Formula 3 driver Alex Peroni is out of his brace and has been offered a seat for the 2020 F3 championship in Europe. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

The first round of F3 will be held in conjunction with the resumption of the Formula Season in Austria on July 5.

“I’ve gotten used to driving my mum’s Ford Fiesta so it will be nice to get back into something with more power,” Peroni said.