Photo: WTCC Media

Rob Huff takes strong points haul in Hungary

By

Rob Huff’s championship lead was diminished by a mere five points in Hungary, despite the Englishman qualifying in 12th position for both races after an error in qualifying.

The Championship leader’s points gap to team-mate Yvan Muller is now 31 points, with the Cambridge-driver taking his lowest points score in any meeting of the season at the Hungaroring, which was still a more than healthy 30 points after finishing fourth and second in the two races.

The 31-year-old admits it was a lucky escape from what could have been a disastrous weekend.

“It was two really tough races,” said Huff.

“The first race, once I got behind Yvan (Muller) I could see that Gabriele (Tarquini) & (Javier) Villa were fighting hard and I think Yvan and I were basically just playing a waiting game. We could see things unveiling, and I just took my opportunity when it arose (to pass Muller and Tarquini).”

“Race two was very difficult with the conditions. I made a good start, I had some good side-by-side racing with a few people which was all nice and clean, and then the heavens opened, and just trying to keep it on the black stuff was hard work.”

“Obviously we had the rest in the car on the red flag. I managed to get up off the restart, Alain (Menu) and Tom (Coronel) came together so that gave me two places, and then I did a good move on Gabriele. I could see he was really struggling on his tyres and just got up the inside into the last corner.”

“To finish fourth in the first race, obviously I was very, very happy with that. If someone had offered me two fifth places on (Saturday) evening I would have taken that for sure, but to come out with a fourth and a second is a level of happiness I didn’t think I’d have.”

Rob Huff continues to lead the championship for Chevrolet with 150 points. Reigning champion Yvan Muller is in second position on 119 points, with Alain Menu third on 104. Gabriele Tarquini is the first non-Chevrolet driver in fourth on 75 points, just one point ahead of his SUNRED Engineering team-mate Tiago Monteiro.