Claudiu David

Claudiu David is a Romanian rally driver.

Career

Romanian Rally Championship

Born and residing in Sinaia, a town and ski resort in Romania, David became a multiple class champion in the Romanian rally championship. He drove his first four-wheel drive season in 2006 and finished runner-up by only one championship point. In 2008, he had to retire prematurely from the national championship due to the lack of sponsors, although he had scored one victory and two second places out of the five rallyes he raced in.

World Rally Championship

David was selected, due to his strong performances in the national championship, to race three rounds of the 2007 World Rally Championship (WRC) in the P-WRC category: Rally Argentina, Rally Japan and Rally GB. A year before, he was selected to drive in Rally Australia but couldn't attend the event due to a Romanian Racing Federations conflict which had left him without international licence. In 2007, for the three rounds of the WRC, the car was a Group N Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX prepared by Stohl Racing team from Austria and entered in the OMV Bixxol Rally Team programme for promotion of young talents from the Eastern Europe. At the end of the year his main sponsor, the OMV Group, retired from motorsports, which left David without the main financial support.

Circuit racing

In 2007, David competed in circuit racing in the first ever FIA-GT race organised in the streets of Bucharest. He won the manufacturer's Dodge cup. He has then driven a GT3 Dodge Viper Competition Coupe of 510 bhp (380 kW) and finished 8th overall of the GT3 category.

Hungarian Rally Championship

On 1 August 2009, David obtained an impressive group N win on his first appearance in the Hungarian Rally Championship; the 42nd Allianz Rallye at Pecs (tarmac). Driving the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX prepared by the local team Topp Cars, he had a close battle with Hungarian rival on Subaru and won the gr N class (and 4th overall behind three WRC cars) by 0.9 seconds.

American Rally Championship

On January 23–24, the Romanian Claudiu David contested his first official rally in the USRC (United States Rally Championship): Winter Rally New York. After two days of racing on very difficult conditions (icy and snow-covered roads), he won his category (2WD – 2-wheel drive) and finished on the podium of the overall standings (3rd) on a Mazda 3 Turbo.

Future

David's main goal is to become Romania's first-ever World Rally Champion. His plans for next year are to compete in a full P-WRC season in order to fight for the world title. Mihaela Beldie is his co-driver since 2004.

Results

2010 - USRC (United States Rally Championship). Round 1: New York Winter Rally (snow and ice) - winner of the 2-wheel-drive category (2WD), 3rd in the overall rally standings, behind two 4WD cars - Mazda 3 Turbo

2009 - 2 rallyes in the Romanian Championship (Timisoara and Iasi); 1 rallye in the Hungarian Championship: 42nd Allianz Rallye Pecs - winner of the gr N (4th overall) - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX

2008 - 5 rallyes in the Romanian Championship, 1 win (Cluj - tarmac), 2 podiums (Brasov - tarmac, Sibiu - gravel) - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX

2007 - 3 Rallyes in the FIA World Rally Championship (Argentina, Japan and Wales Rally GB), P-WRC category; 1 Rallye in the FIA European Championship (Waltviertel, Austria) - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX; 1 circuit race in FIA-GT3, Bucharest Challenge (Dodge Viper GT3)

2006 - Runner-up in the Romanian Rally Championship, at 1 point behind the first place, 2 wins (Piatra Neamt, Brasov - gravel) – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII, the first season on four-wheel-drive cars

2004-2005 – National Class Champion of the N 1.6 Trophy in the Romanian Championship (VW Polo); class winner (N2) at Waldviertel Rally, Austria in 2004, round of the FIA European Championship

2003 – 3rd place in the group H of the Romanian Rally Championship (Renault 5 GT Turbo)

2001-2002 – with very limited founds, Claudiu takes part at selected rounds of the National Championship (group H), recording some podium finishes (Renault 5 GT Turbo and Opel Corsa GTI)

2000 - Vice-champion of the rookie challenge in the Romanian Rallye Championship (Opel Corsa GTI)

1996-1997 - Rallycross – (Opel Rekord)

External links

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