Herczig tipped to shine on Mecsek Rallye

Norbert Herczig has been tipped as an outside bet for a podium finish on Hungary’s Mecsek Rallye, which joins the Intercontinental Rally Challenge schedule for the first time in September.

Herczig is contesting the Hungarian championship this season, which starts with the Eger Rallye from 1-3 April, in a Skoda Rally Team Hungaria-run Fabia Super 2000. The six-round series includes the Mecsek Rallye on its calendar of events.

Team boss Pierfrancesco Zanchi believes Herczig’s knowledge of the Tarmac stages based close to the town of Pecs in the south west of the country, will make him one to watch on the IRC qualifier from 9-11 September.

“I’m curious to see where he will be compared to the [regular] IRC drivers,” said Zanchi. “He has good speed and is a very intelligent driver. A podium is possible because he knows the rally and previous knowledge will be a big advantage on this event.”

Zanchi’s Milan-based operation will also be fielding Skoda UK Motorsport Andreas Mikkelsen in a similar Fabia S2000 on the Mecsek Rallye, round nine of the 12-event IRC season.