ERC
Champions unite as Carlberg steps up in ERC with Llarena Racing
Calle Carlberg will step up to the FIA European Rally Championship’s top tier on 43rd Andalusia Rally - Sierra Morena - Córdoba World Heritage Site from 17- 19 April.
The reigning FIA ERC4 and FIA Junior ERC champion has joined Llarena Racing for the all-Tarmac contest with work ongoing to extend the programme to include more events in 2026.
Swede Carlberg, one of the sport’s most promising young drivers, will pilot a Hankook-equipped Citroën C3 Rally2 on the Spanish season opener with Norwegian Jørgen Eriksen co-driving.
Their appearance in Andalucia will come one week after Croatia Rally, round two of the 2026 FIA Junior WRC Championship, which Carlberg is contesting as his prize for winning the Junior ERC title in 2025.
The 2025 season ended with two titles for Carlberg (left)
© Red Bull Content Pool
“It’s a dream come true that I get this chance,” 25-year-old Carlberg said. “We’ve worked super-hard throughout the winter to be able to stand on the startline. The only thing that’s confirmed is Sierra Morena. I have ambitions to drive more but, as always, the budget is the limiting factor so we will see how much I can drive. But it’s also nice to do it with Efrén Llarena, who has gone a similar route as me. He drove in Junior ERC and won it, he climbed up to also win in ERC1 so it’s nice to have him on board. And I hope to see a good collaboration with him.”
I have ambitions to drive more but, as always, the budget is the limiting factor so we will see how much I can drive
Efrén Llarena, the 2019 ERC4 and Junior ERC champion and 2022 ERC champion, established his eponymous team for the 2025 season and oversaw a debut victory on Rally Lloret de Mar last March. Since then, the team has competed in the ERC and FIA WRC2 Championship.
“To drive in Sierra Morena will be really nice,” Carlberg continued. “I’ve been there before, last year it was a really nice rally, but it’s my first rally in a Rally2 car, it will also be my third event ever in a Rally2 car. I don’t really expect I will be fighting for any top positions but if I want to stay in the ERC, I have to prove something to be able to find the support and I will give it my best.”
Eriksen and Carlberg (right) won the Junior WRC opener in Sweden last month
© Red Bull Content Pool
Mission BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia
As well as preparing for next week’s Croatia Rally and his upcoming ERC1 debut in Spain, Calle Carlberg has made contesting his home round of the European championship a key target.
BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia takes place from 22 - 24 May out of the Swedish city of Karlstad and Carlberg is doing all he can to line up for the gravel-based counter.
“Royal Rally needs its prince there so I’ll be working flat out to get more events,” Carlberg said.
