Dealer
Tejpar targets ERC experience
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Nabila Tejpar will continue to build her experience at international level with an FIA European Rally Championship try-out on this weekend’s Rally Islas Canarias.
The Briton, 25, has registered for the Pirelli-supported ERC3 Junior division and will make her debut on the Spanish island contest this week (2-4 May). Her compatriot Catie Munnings and 2018 ERC Ladies’ Trophy winner Emma Falcón will also be taking part on the event.
And while experience-building is key for the third-generation rally driver, a haul of ERC3 Junior and ERC Ladies’ Trophy points will be among Tejpar’s objectives in the Peugeot 208 R2 she shares with co-driver Max Freeman.
“I’ve been competing in the Peugeot Rally Cup Ibérica, the British Championship and things like that but the ERC is going to be a good experience to see what the differences are and it’s good competition, too,” said Tejpar, who took part on her first rally in 2016. “I’ve competed against some of the drivers before and I’ve had good pace against them.”
Of the all-asphalt event on Gran Canaria, Tejpar said: “I’ve been looking at YouTube and it looks quite fast in places but twisty as well with smooth Tarmac. It will be a challenge because I’ve never been to any of the islands to rally and I know a lot of the competition has been to the island before. I know I will have to make sure I’ve done an extremely good recce, but the main thing is to build my experience in what will be a strong category.”
A two-time winner of the British Rally Championship Ladies’ title, Tejpar has followed her grandfather and father by taking up rallying, as she explains: “As a kid I used to go to rallies all the time but I never thought of it as an option. When I was 16 I tried out driving a rally car and I actually fell in love with it and said to myself this is what I want to do. My mum said no, I had to go to university first, so I got my degree, came back and started competing.”
While Rally Islas Canarias is currently a one-off, Tejpar has made outline plans to add July’s Rally di Roma Capitale to her schedule. “We will see what happens and what are the best options for expanding my experience for next year,” she said.
As well as her achievements in rallying, Tejpar has been a finalist in the sports section of the Asian Women of Achievement Awards.
Nabila is pictured wearing a Stilo WRC Nicky Grist Limited Edition helmet.
