Valentin Porcișteanu (born November 25, 1982, in Bucharest, Romania) is a driver in the Romanian Rally Championship, who won the National Champion title in 2011, four National Runner-Up titles in 2010, 2012, 2018, 2019 and Colin McRae Flat Out Trophy in 2013 (ERC Sibiu Rally).
Early career Before running in the Romanian National Rallying Championship, Valentin Porcisteanul competed in the Romanian Hill Climb Championship, obtaining two podiums in Abrud Hill Climb 2003 (3rd place, young drivers' classification) and Brasov Hill Climb 2003 (3rd place, Class N1.6).
Romanian National Rally Championship
2003 – 2007
Valentin Porcisteanu made his debut in the Romanian National Rallying Championship in 2003, his first appearance taking place at Arges Rally, as zero car. In his very first year he scored two class podiums in N1.6 Trophy, at the Harghita Rally and Cluj Rally, announcing himself as a strong candidate for the future seasons. Following the 2004 season in which he competed with a Dacia Nova GTI, within Class N1.6, finishing 4th at Brasov Rally, 3rd at Romania Rally and 4th at Harghita Rally, in 2005 he drove a Citroen Saxo VTS, his best event results being Class N1.6 victories at the Maramures Rally and Bucharest Rally. His positive development continued in 2006, when he scored two more Class N1.6 victories at the Sibiu Rally and Tara Barsei Rally. One year later, in 2007, he scored 7 wins in the row, at end of the season being 1st in N2 class standings.
2008 – 2012
In 2008 Valentin Porcisteanu stepped into the top class of the Romanian National Rallying Championship, competing with a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII and finishing 7th in the Overall ranking and 4th in the Mitsubishi Lancer Cup. Porcisteanu started the 2009 season in the best possible way, with a win in Brasov Rally, followed by other outstanding results: two 2nd places in the Tara Barsei Rally and Banat Rally and two 3rd places in Cluj Rally and Arges Rally, securing a 4th place overall in the drivers' national championship. In 2010 he scored a win in Tara Barsei Rally and three second places at Brasov, Sibiu, Arad, finishing second in the Romanian National Rally Championship Ranking. 2011 is the year of the greatest success of his career – he scored wins in Brasov Rally, Cluj Rally, Arad Rally and Tara Barsei Rally, and ended up the season as the youngest (28 years) Champion ever in the Romanian National Rally Championship history. In the 2012 season he won a second National Runner-up Title, after two victories in TESS Rally and Timis Rally and two podium finishes – 3rd in Transylvania Rally and again 3rd in Sibiu Rally (Intercontinental Rally Challenge).
European Rally Championship In 2009 Valentin Porcisteanu participated in two European Rally Championship events, finishing 17th in the Rally Mille Miglia and on the 6th position in Croatia Delta Rally. In the same year he qualified and represented Romania at the final Pirelli Star Driver, a competition initiate to support young rally drivers, organised by Pirelli and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). That year, Ott Tanak was the winner.
The inclusion of Sibiu Rally in the 2013 European Rally Championship offered Valentin Porcisteanu the chance to participate in another international event along with some prominent personalities of European and World motorsport: Jan Kopecky, Bryan Bouffier, François Delecour, Toshihiro Arai. At the end of the competition he secured the 6th place in the FIA overall ranking, his evolution being also rewarded with the Colin McRae Flat Out Trophy Award.
Personal life Valentin Porcisteanu lives in Pitesti, Arges County, Romania. He is married and has two kids, a girl – Sophia (born 2017) and a boy – Damian (born 2023). In that town, he owns his Rally & Defensive Driving School (Vali Porcisteanu Driving School) plus his own Rally Team (Vali Porcisteanu Racing) with 9 rally cars (3x Dacia Logan, 2x Dacia Sandero, 1 Suzuki Swift sport, 1 Citroen C2 VTS, 1 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, 1 Skoda Fabia R5. Starting in 2021, he launched his personal campaign of finding new future talented rally drivers, to support them every year throughout Pilot de curse program.
Romanian Rally Championship Podiums Year Title Car2010Romanian National Rally Runner-UpMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX2011Romanian National Rally ChampionMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX2012Romanian National Rally Runner-UpMitsubishi Lancer EVO X R42017Romanian National Rally – 3rd Overall & 1st Group NMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX2018Romanian National Rally Runner-UpSkoda Fabia R52019Romanian National Rally Runner-UpCitroen C3 R5202210th Overall & 1st Group NMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX
Romanian Rally Championship results
2003 # Rally Codriver Car Result1Harghita RallyDan DobreDacia Nova3rd, Class N1.62Cluj RallyDan DobreDacia Nova2nd Class N1.6, 4th young drivers
2004 # Rally Codriver Car Result1Brasov RallyDan DobreDacia Nova GTI4th Class N1.62Romanian RallyDan DobreDacia Nova GTI3rd Class N1.63Harghita RallyDan DobreDacia Nova GTI4th Class N1.6
2005 # Rally Codriver Car Result1Brasov RallyDan DobreCitroen Saxo VTS4th Class N1.62Maramures RallyDan DobreCitroen Saxo VTS1st Class N1.63Cluj RallyDan DobreCitroen Saxo VTS2nd Class N1.64Hunedoara RallyDan DobreCitroen Saxo VTS2nd Class N1.65Bucharest RallyDan DobreCitroen Saxo VTS1st Class N1.62005 Romanian National Rally Championship2nd – N1.6 Trophy
2006 # Rally Codriver Car Result1Brasov RallyDan DobreCitroen Saxo VTS3rd Class N1.62Maramures RallyDan DobreCitroen Saxo VTS3rd Class N1.63Sibiu RallyDan DobreCitroen Saxo VTS1st Class N1.64Muscel RallyDan DobreCitroen Saxo VTSDNF5Tara Barsei RallyDan DobreCitroen Saxo VTS1st Class N1.66Hunedoara RallyDan DobreCitroen Saxo VTS2nd Class N1.62006 Romanian National Rally Championship2nd – N1.6 Trophy
2007 # Rally Codriver Car Result1Brasov RallyDan DobreCitroen Saxo VTS1st Class N22Banat RallyDan DobreCitroen Saxo VTS1st Class N23Hunedoara RallyDan DobreCitroen Saxo VTS1st Class N24Mobil1 Siromex RallyDan DobreCitroen Saxo VTS1st Class N25Mobil1 Cluj RallyDan DobreCitroen Saxo VTS1st Class N26Tara Barsei RallyDan DobreCitroen Saxo VTS1st Class N27Avram Iancu RallyDan DobreCitroen Saxo VTS1st Class N22007 Romanian National Rally Championship1st – Class N2
2008 # Rally Codriver Car Result1Brasov RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO VII9th Overall ranking 5th Mitsubishi Lancer Cup2Banat RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO VII6th Overall ranking 4th Mitsubishi Lancer Cup3Cluj RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO VII7th Overall ranking 4th Mitsubishi Lancer Cup4Tara Barsei RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO VII5th Overall ranking2008 Romanian National Rally Championship7th Overall ranking 4th Mitsubishi Lancer Cup
2009 # Rally Codriver Car Result1Brasov RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX1st Overall ranking2Banat RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX2nd Overall ranking3Iasi RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IXDNF4Cluj RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX3rd Overall ranking5Sibiu RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IXDNF6Tara Barsei RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX2nd Overall ranking7Arges RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX3rd Overall ranking2009 Romanian National Rally Championship4th Overall ranking
2010 # Rally Codriver Car Result1Brasov RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX2nd Overall ranking2Arges RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX5th Overall ranking3Targu Mures RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IXDNF4Cluj RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX7th Overall ranking5Sibiu RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX2nd Overall ranking6Tara Barsei RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX1st Overall ranking7Arad RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX2nd Overall ranking8Iasi RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX4th Overall ranking2010 Romanian National Rally Championship2nd Overall ranking
2011 # Rally Codriver Car Result1Brasov RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX1st Overall ranking2Targu Mures RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX7th Overall ranking3Cluj RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX1st Overall ranking4Arges RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IXCancelled5Sibiu RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IXDNF6Arad RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX1st Overall ranking7Tara Barsei RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX1st Overall ranking8Iasi RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX4th Overall ranking9Bacau RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX4th Overall ranking2011 Romanian National Rally ChampionshipNational Champion
2012 # Rally Codriver Car Result1TESS RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO X R41st FIA Overall ranking2Timis RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO X R41st FIA Overall ranking3Moldova RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO X R45th FIA Overall ranking4Transilvania RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO X R43rd FIA Overall ranking5Sibiu RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO X R43rd FIA Overall ranking6Arad RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO X R46th FIA Overall ranking7Tara Barsei RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO X R45th FIA Overall ranking8Iasi RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO X R4DNF2012 Romanian National Rally Championship2nd Overall ranking
2013 # Rally Codriver Car Result1TESS RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO X R46th FIA Overall ranking2Timis RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO X R43rd FIA Overall ranking3Delta RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO X R4DNS4Transilvania RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO X R44th FIA Overall ranking5Sibiu RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO X R44th FIA Overall ranking6Arad RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO X R43rd FIA Overall ranking7Moldova RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO X R44th FIA Overall ranking8Iasi RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO X R4DNF9Harghita RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO X R4DNS2013 Romanian National Rally Championship4th Overall ranking
2017 # Rally Codriver Car Result1TESS RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX4th FIA Overall ranking2Transilvania RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX3rd FIA Overall ranking3Arad RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX3rd FIA Overall ranking4Moldova RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX2nd FIA Overall ranking5Harghita RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX6th FIA Overall ranking6Iasi RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX4th FIA Overall ranking7Sibiu RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX3rd FIA Overall ranking2017 Romanian National Rally Championship3rd Overall ranking 1st Group N
2018 # Rally Codriver Car Result1TESS RallyDan DobreSkoda Fabia R53rd FIA Overall ranking2Transilvania RallyDan DobreSkoda Fabia R53rd FIA Overall ranking3Arad RallyDan DobreSkoda Fabia R51st FIA Overall ranking4Moldova RallyDan DobreSkoda Fabia R52nd FIA Overall ranking5Harghita RallyDan DobreSkoda Fabia R54th FIA Overall ranking6Iasi RallyDan DobreSkoda Fabia R5DNF7Sibiu RallyDan DobreSkoda Fabia R52nd FIA Overall ranking2018 Romanian National Rally Championship2nd Overall ranking
2019 # Rally Codriver Car Result1Arges RallyDan DobreCitroen C3 R52nd FIA Overall ranking2Arad RallyDan DobreCitroen C3 R53rd FIA Overall ranking3Moldova RallyDan DobreCitroen C3 R51st FIA Overall ranking4Harghita RallyDan DobreCitroen C3 R55th FIA Overall ranking5Sibiu RallyDan DobreCitroen C3 R53rd FIA Overall ranking6Iasi RallyDan DobreCitroen C3 R51st FIA Overall ranking7Transilvania RallyDan DobreCitroen C3 R54th FIA Overall ranking8Tess RallyDan DobreCitroen C3 R5DNF2019 Romanian National Rally Championship2nd Overall ranking
2020 # Rally Codriver Car Result1Arges RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer Evo 94th Overall/1st RC2N 2Sibiu RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer Evo 9DNF3Iasi RallyDan DobreMitsubishi Lancer Evo 9DNF
2022