Photo: WTCC Media

Rob Huff confident heading into the winter despite Qatar setback

Lada Sport’s Rob Huff had a weekend to forget at the Losail circuit in Qatar, qualifying second to last with the Vesta WTCC which struggled with a handling problem all weekend. The 2012 champion and last weekend’s Guia Race of Macau winner put down to damage from his high speed shunt in Hungaroing testing back in May.

“It’s a tough finish to the year,” said Huff to TouringCarTimes. “Ultimately we know we’ve had a lot of accident damage to the chassis. Mine is the worst, (Nicolas) Lapierre’s is the second worst and Nicky (Catsburg’s) is the best of a pretty battered bunch of chassis from this year.

“I’ve not been happy with the car I’ve had at any weekend since I had my very big accident in Budapest. We’ve struggled in qualifying, but in the races the car behaves quite well. We’ve not had the best end to the year as this time last year I was celebrating a win in Macau, and in fact this time last week I was celebrating a win in Macau, so the good thing for me is I take the confidence into the winter that I went to Macau last week and was on pole by 1.6 seconds in the same car 11 other drivers had and won the race quite easily, so I know it’s not me.”

Huff’s plans for the next season are still unconfirmed, but it’s anticipated that the Briton will remain with the Russian Lada programme for a third season.