The four-time Hungarian champion and triple ERC podium finisher has joined Efrén Llarena’s all-new Llarena Racing outfit for 2025 to pilot a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 on Pirelli tyres.
Herczig and Llarena were team-mates at Team MRF Tyres in 2022, the year of Llarena’s European title triumph alongside co-driver Sara Fernández.
While Llarena will continue his stellar driving career in 2025, the Spaniard is multitasking by overseeing his own team for the first time.
“Our friendship goes back more than five years,” Herczig said of Llarena. “We were opponents of course, but he’s a very nice guy and when we were team-mates we had a very good connection.
“He wants a very good partnership and is writing many messages about the car because he wants to provide a good service. I realised from the first test in Spain in the middle of December that he wants to give us a service that’s not like a normal team. He is thinking like a driver and knows what is in the driver’s head. This is important for me.”
Herczig, who turns 50 later this year, explained his choice of car for his upcoming six-event ERC campaign.
“In the last year, we could try three types of car, a Citroën, a Škoda and a Toyota,” Hungarian Herczig said. “Before I did not think about the Toyota, but Efrén called me and told me he will make a new team with the Toyota and, believe me, the Toyota is the best, he said. He invited us in Spain in the middle of December and we could try two cars, the Škoda and Efrén’s Toyota.
“At this test I could realise the Toyota is absolutely good for me, for my driving. It’s like a go-kart. With this type of car the racer has to drive very precise, not like Colin McRae for example. Usually, I am driving quite precise. I realised this car is on the middle between the Super 2000 and R5 and therefore if somebody could drive with the S2000 they can drive this car and I like it.”
Herczig’s last ERC appearance was on Barum Czech Rally Zlín in August 2022 when he finished fifth among the registered drivers. The event was Herczig’s first back with long-term co-driver Ramón Ferencz, who sat out much of the 2022 season after he was injured when the duo crashed out of Rally Hungary in October 2021.
Ferencz will co-drive Herczig during their ERC comeback campaign in 2025, which is set to include the five Tarmac rounds, plus the all-gravel V-Híd Rally Hungary.
Ahead of the 42nd running of Rally Sierra Morena - Córdoba Patrimonio de la Humanidad hosting the 2025 ERC season opener from 3 - 6 April, Herczig and Ferencz will contest Rally Lloret de Mar from 14 - 16 February, their debut in the Llarena Racing Toyota.
Did you know? Herczig scored his most recent ERC podium on Rally di Roma Capitale in 2021 after he beat Llarena to third place by 0.3sec.
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