A perfect performance in the penultimate round of the Monoplace Challenge at Magny Cours has put Alex Peroni within striking distance of the title.

The 16 year-old Hobart driver qualified on pole position and won all three races in round six of the international series for Formula Renault openwheelers.

His triple victory extended his points lead to 155 points over Frenchman Gilles Heriau, who is now the only other driver with a mathematical chance of winning.

With a maximum 180 points available for next month’s finale at Estoril, Peroni only needs one 10th placing at the Portuguese track to guarantee the series victory.

His Magny Cours triumph was all the more impressive considering it was his first race meeting at the 4.4km former French Formula 1 Grand Prix venue.

“This was my most satisfying round of the series so far,” Peroni said. “I’ve qualified on pole and won two races in other rounds, but something – or someone – always stopped me winning the third one.

“It’s tough racing for the first time at circuits where most of the other drivers have previous experience, but after five new circuits from six rounds I’m getting used to it!

“I was a bit worried when the first practice session was shortened from an hour to 40 minutes, which didn’t leave much time to set up the car.

“In the first race my start wasn’t great, and I had to work very hard to keep the lead until the finish.

“The track was damp for the second race, so it was a matter of how much to risk sliding off. But the car felt really good, and I was able to pull out a good lead and manage it to the end.

“Race 3 is always tricky with tyres at the end of their life, but I got a great start and pushed hard in the early laps to gain an advantage. It was just as well, because I lost some ground when I came up to lap a couple of backmarkers at awkward overtaking places.”

Even with one hand seemingly on the 2016 Monoplace Challenge trophy after his Magny Cours clean-sweep, Peroni isn’t getting over-confident.

“It was an incredible round. Weekends like this are rare in such a competitive series.

“Thanks as always to TS Corse for their awesome car preparation and coaching, and to all of my supporters for this fantastic opportunity.

“We’ll celebrate this round, but we won’t relax until the series is won at Estoril."

2016 MONOPLACE CHALLENGE ROUND 6 – MAGNY COURS, FRANCE

POINTSCORE*

1.    Alex Peroni (AUS) 833

2.    Gilles Heriau (FRA) 678

3.    Alexey Chuklin (UKR) 572.5

* subject to official confirmation

ALEX PERONI’S ROUND 6 RESULTS

Qualifying: Pole

Race 1: 1st

Race 2: 1st

Race 3: 1st

ALEX PERONI’S SERIES STATISTICS

Race wins: 11 from 18

Podiums: 16 from 18

Pole positions: 3 from 6

FINAL ROUND

November 4/5/6 – Estoril (Portugal)

MORE INFORMATION

alex-peroni.com

vdev.fr/category/challenge-monoplace