School comes first for Tempestini Jr

School will come first for FIA Production Car Cup contender Simone Tempestini in 2013.

The 18-year-old Romanian, a relative newcomer to rallying, will tackle eight rounds of the European championship in a Subaru Impreza R4 STI but will be absent from competition from May until July in order to sit his final exams at school.

He will start his campaign on Rally Liepāja-Ventspils in Latvia this week before contesting SATA Rallye Açors in April. However, he’ll then be out of action until Rally San Marino in July by which time he will have completed his school exams.

Tempestini, whose father Marco will also compete in the ERC this season under the Napoca Rally Academy banner, said: “There is no pressure for me this season. I just want to gain as much experience as possible. I have a lot to learn and I will do this step by step. Of course, my father will be my reference for my first full year at European level, but I will do everything step by step. If everything goes well, for sure we will have some good results too.”

Following Rally San Marino, Tempestini will contest the Sibiu Rally, Barum Czech Rally Zlín, Rally Poland, Rallye Sanremo and Rallye International du Valais.