At just 10 years old, Alexis Stan is a certainty in Romanian and European motorsport. A child who, instead of learning drifting from simulators or grandstands, experienced it directly on the circuit, stage by stage, transforming his precocious talent into an officially validated performance. His journey is one that defies age and redefines the idea of 'too early' in motorsport. In 2025, he finished the RoDrift Street Kids season in first place overall, confirming that talent, discipline and training can speed up time. RoDrift Street Kids is considered the most important national drift competition dedicated to junior drivers - a platform through which the future generation of Romanian motorsport professionals is formed. Here, youngsters learn advanced car control techniques, race on real circuits and compete according to close to international standards, turning each stage into a real test of courage, precision and strategy. As a result of his performances, Alexis Stan was enrolled in the campaign "100 Youngsters for Romania's Development" 2025 edition, run at national level by the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania.
The story begins at the age of 5, when Alexis receives his first racing kart from his grandfather. It was not just a gift, but the start of a career. A year later, aged just 6, he entered his first official karting competition - and won. It was a clear sign that we were talking about more than just a kid with a passion for speed.
At the age of 8, Alexis takes a step that for many drivers only comes with adulthood: he drives a car for the first time in a drift competition. His control, precision and natural handling of the car quickly caught the attention of the racing community and the general public. At the age of 9, Alexis officially made history. He became the youngest licensed driver in Europe - probably in the world - and even won the first official competition he ever took part in, both in drifting, in the RoDrift National Championship, and in karting. In the same season he finishes 3rd overall, although he faces serious technical problems in the last two rounds. At the Gala of Champions, the Romanian Federation of Motorsport gives him a special award for being the youngest drift driver in the history of the championship - an official recognition of an unprecedented moment.
At 10, Alexis confirms his status as a phenomenon. Four wins out of a possible five in a highly competitive season, with the only third place coming due to a technical problem. The first few rounds were run in a car borrowed from Vanesa Manea, another young driver, proving that his performance is not just about equipment, but talent and control. At the Champions Gala organized by the Romanian Federation of Sports Car Driving, he receives a new special award: the youngest champion in the history of the championship, thus becoming the youngest drifting champion in the world.
Alexis Stan grew up in motorsport, almost literally, having been on the circuits since his early years, alongside his father, Răzvan Stan, RoDrift driver and trainer. In this environment, Alexis learned early on that drifting is not just for show, but for discipline, safety, responsibility and strategy. And the results show that this early education makes all the difference.
Alexis' story is not just about drifting or speed. It's about a child who was given the chance to follow his talent, about a family that invested in training and safety, and about a sport that, done properly, builds character. At just 10, Alexis Stan is no longer dreaming of becoming a champion. He's already there - and he's just getting started.
