Rob Huff just off the podium at the Slovakiaring

Münnich Motorsport’s Rob Huff finished just off the podium in race two at the Slovakiaring, running as high as second defending against the Chevrolet Cruze and Honda Civic of Yvan Muller and Gabriele Tarquini for much of the race.

The reigning World Champion was disappointed to not finish in the top three, suffering in the first race with first a penalty for a ride height infringement in qualifying which put him into the middle of the grid, and then a bad set-up for the race, but that was all turned around in race two.

“In race one the car was awful, we went completely the wrong way,” said Huff to TouringCarTimes, “but in race two the car was perfect, as good as I could ever imagine or want the car to be. Understeer, oversteer, the balance was really good and through the in-field I could hold them, if anything on a few corners I could just pull away a little bit.”

Huff eventually fell prey to Yvan Muller’s Chevrolet Cruze on the penultimate lap, locking up at Turn 1 which also allowed Gabriele Tarquini’s Honda Civic past Huff’s SEAT León and into third.

“It’s the reverse to the scenario of what I had last year, the last third of the straight we struggle, and that’s where the strength of the Chevrolet always was.

“I defended and I locked up a little bit, but if I hadn’t had defended he’d have gone to the inside as the Chevy is so strong under braking, but it seems the Honda is very strong as well,” he added.

“I gave it absolutely everything, I think that’s as good and as hard as I’ve ever driven, I made one mistake and that was the lock up when they came past. Other than that I think I drove very well and I’ve got to be very happy, but I just feel the team deserve the podium and I feel deserve one for driving like that.

“It was really nice to race with Yvan, no contact at all, really fair, really close racing, just like back to last year but just in different cars.”