ERC
ERC questions answered by… Alexandra Teslovan
Alexandra Teslovan is tackling selected FIA ERC3 Championship rounds in 2026, her first season at international level. This is what the 19-year-old Romanian has had to say.
Why did you choose the ERC for 2026? “I chose the ERC because it represents one of the highest levels in rallying, with some of the best drivers competing there. Since I started this journey, it has always been my dream to reach the ERC, even from a young age. I feel like now is the right moment to take this step. I need to gain experience and kilometres at a higher level in order to adapt, improve and continue developing as a driver. For me, the ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy represents a great opportunity. At the same time, I’m very grateful to have strong partners supporting me and helping me move closer to my dream.”
What target have you set yourself for this season? “To be honest, my main goal is to perform as well as I can and to fully enjoy the experience. I want to make the most out of every kilometre, every stage and every lesson. This is a learning year for us, we want to understand how everything works at this level, so we can improve for the future. In the coming years, I definitely want to continue in the ERC and then start setting more concrete performance targets.”
After her first rally start in 2023 Teslovan is competing internationally
© ERC
What are you hoping to learn from competing in the ERC this year? “A bit of everything. Moving from the national championship to the ERC means a completely different level from rally preparation, to new types of stages that are very different from Romania. Also, pacenotes are something we are constantly working on and adjusting, especially at this stage of my career. I’m sure I will learn a lot this season, and since it’s my first year in the ERC, everything will be a valuable experience.”
Who’s your rallying hero and why? “To be honest, I don’t have just one specific rally hero. I admire all drivers because I believe each of them has something unique that you can learn from. For me, a rally hero would probably be a combination of all their qualities, consistency, mentality and experience. When I was younger, watching rally drivers on TV and also live, I used to tell myself how much I would love to meet them one day and how I wanted to be like them. Now, I have the chance to do that, which is really special for me. I’m even more happy that, starting this year, I have Mads Østberg by my side. We’ve begun working together in testing, and he’s been helping me a lot with advice and experience.”
Points on ERC3 debut underlined Teslovan's potential
© ERC
What’s your greatest achievement in rallying/motorsport so far? “So far, my greatest achievement is the progress I’ve made in a relatively short time and the fact that I managed to take the step from national level to the ERC. For me, this is a big milestone and also proof that the work we’ve done is going in the right direction. At the same time, on a national level, I’ve achieved strong results across different disciplines, winning multiple titles and building my experience step by step. I’m also a two-time Junior champion in Romania (2024, 2025), which is something I’m really proud of. All these achievements are important milestones that helped me grow and get closer to my goal.”
Looking back to your first rally, when was it and where, what car did you drive and what happened? “My first rally was in 2023, at Rally Harghita. I remember being extremely emotional, my hands were shaking and I could barely sleep the night before. I started with a Renault Twingo RS R1, a small but very enjoyable car that I grew very attached to and with which I gained a lot of experience. My first stage was around 28 kilometres long, which was quite a challenge, as I had never driven such a long stage in race conditions before. During that stage, we experienced almost every type of weather, from sunshine to heavy rain, with very slippery conditions. At one point, after the first 10 kilometres, I felt quite overwhelmed and kept asking my co-driver, ‘How much is left?’. In the end, everything went well, and we managed to set some decent stage times. It was an intense and unforgettable experience. I was only 16 at the time, quite young and at the very beginning of my journey, but that rally confirmed for me that this is the path I want to follow.”
Teslovan is a university student when she's not competing
© ERC
Looking to the future, where do you hope to be in five years from now? “It’s hard to predict the future, but I definitely hope to still be competing in the ERC, with a more competitive car, fighting closer to the top positions. And depending on how things develop, I would also be interested in opportunities like the Junior WRC. At the same time, I would love to be consistently fighting for top results in the national championship as well.”
If you weren’t a rally driver, what sport would you like to do? “I honestly don’t really see myself in another sport, but before rallying I used to play tennis and I was quite good at it. So most likely, I would have continued in tennis.”
Romanian teenager is making selected ERC appearances this season
© ERC
When you are not competing what do you do to keep busy? “Right now, I’m focused on finishing my studies, I’m in my first year at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest. At the same time, I do a lot of physical training with my coach, which is very important for my performance. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, walking my dogs, going out with my friends and also spending time with my boyfriend, who is involved in the same sport and is also competing in the ERC for the first time.”
Tell us something interesting about yourself? “To be honest, I don’t think I’m that interesting, I’m just a normal teenager who does a different kind of sport. I’m very sociable and optimistic, and I laugh a lot, almost all the time. I think I bring a really positive energy.”
Teslovan competes in an AT Racing Ford Fiesta Rally3 on Pirelli tyres. Her fellow Romanian Mihai Supuran co-drives. She was a finalist in WRC Promoter’s Beyond Rally Women’s Driver Development Programme in 2024.
