Tempestini shines on ERC return

The 2016 Junior world champion was contesting the all-asphalt event in a Citroën DS3 R5 and was reunited with former co-driver Sergiu Itu for the occasion.

“It was a rally with very technical stages, with a lot of pace shifts and it was quite difficult to find the exact right racing pace,” said Tempestini, a two-time Romanian national champion. “I am content with the result and hope to have the opportunity to participate again, as I have found such a beautiful atmosphere here in Rome. It also turned out to be a good test for the rally to come in Spain. I needed a short period of acclimatisation with Sergiu, because we have both grown since we last competed together, but we managed to get along well up to the end of the rally.”

Itu added: “I am glad I have returned next to Simo, I am glad I had the opportunity to return to the European championship after a two-year break. It was quite a challenge for me to adapt to the level that he has reached and I hope that I have succeeded. The rally was made up of very difficult stages, the weather also posed problems, but all in all, it was a successful event. In the end, things got tied together and we got along better and better. I am content with the way this weekend went.”