Tempestini preparing to perfection for ERC action

The winner of Romania’s national rally championship title a staggering eight times, Tempestini is hoping to tackle an expanded ERC schedule in 2024 and plans to kick-off his preparations with a test and an outing on Rally della Val D'Orcia in Italy this weekend.  

While Tempestini’s co-driver (Sergiu Itu) and team (Keane Motorsport) remain the same, the 29-year-old has upgraded to a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, which he can’t wait to try out on the stages of the ERC this season.

“It’s important to get used to the new car in a rally so we will participate in Rally della Val D'Orcia and then next week we will be in Hungary for the ERC,” Tempestini explained. “I am still working for this season but my target is do seven events. For sure we will try to do all the gravel events and I would like to do Roma and Barum. Then we will see what we can do [with the budget].”  

Like the bulk of Tempestini’s ERC rivals, V-Híd Rally Hungary’s relocation to Veszprém represents a trip into the unknown. However, the Romanian has done his best to be prepared.

“I know the surface is very challenging and quite hard from what I heard from other drivers who did this rally in the past,” he said. “But for us it’s a really new rally and we have no idea how the stages are looking. I have checked a few onboard videos and it looks like there is a mixed characteristic of stage, they have junctions but mainly there are many fast sections. It will be an interesting rally and hopefully the weather will be good.”  

In terms of a target result, Tempestini said: “It will depend a lot on the test and the preparations for how it will go for me. I would like to be fast so this is one of the things I will try to do. We will do a good recce and focus on enjoying the rally and being with good times.”