Rob Huff: “It’s been a dream start to the year”

Rob Huff is on cloud nine after building a 36 point lead in the 2011 FIA World Touring Car Championship, leaving his two team-mates in his wake after a double victory at Monza.

In the record books, this is only the third time this has happened, with Jorg Müller achieving the feat in the second round of the current era-WTCC at Magny-Cours in 2005 for Schnitzer BMW, and then a sensational run by James Thompson in Valencia 2007 with the N-Technology Alfa Romeo 156.

Huff was the first to point out the difference in the achievement however.
“I think we need to remember the qualifying system is different now,” said Huff.

“When they did it they obviously started race two in eighth place, whereas I had the privilege of starting on the front row.”

It’s not all been plane sailing for the Chevrolet driver today. Huff faced a strong challenge by both his team-mates Alain Menu in race one and Yvan Muller in race two for the win.

On race one, Huff said:

“Today was the toughest race I’ve certainly had this season to hold Alain and Yvan off for however many laps it was around here was really tough.”

“I had a big hit from Alain at one point…it was a bit of a breathless moment for sure but I managed to keep hold of it.”

After race two, Huff had to fight off Yvan Muller this time, with the reigning champion still chasing his first win of the season. Muller kept with Huff after catching him on lap two, and there was contact on lap six at the Parabolica as Muller ran into the back of Huff’s Chevrolet, but both continued without injury.

“The one thing that’s great about having someone like Yvan behind you is you know he’s not going to do anything intentionally and if he does, he’s going to give you the place back,” said Huff.

“He was very very quick out of Ascari, I’d moved to the inside, obviously the dirty side of the track, I braked quite early as I was worried about the dirt on the tyres and just making it through the corner and obviously that caught him by susprise. I think my wheels were about a foot in the air when he hit me, but he played fair, backed off and had another pretty frantic last couple of laps and was pushing me hard again.”

Rob Huff now leads the championship with 120 points, with Yvan Muller up to second on 84 points and Alain Menu dropping to third, but recovered well with fifth place in race three.

Chevrolet have built up a dominant lead in the Manufacturers’ Championship with 242 points, with SUNRED Customer Racing the next closest, 92 points back.

“It’s been a dream start,” said Huff after race two.

“It’s the start that I’ve been hoping for for the last six years, and finally we’ve achieved it this year, but hey, we’ve still quite a lot of races left, we’re still early in the season and anything can happen.”