Macau master Rob Huff aims to use his street circuit magic at Vila Real

Rob Huff is hoping to convert his strong form at street circuits into success this weekend at the WTCC’s newest street track, the Circuito Vila Real.

Huff is most known for his seven-race winning record at Macau, but the 35-year-old Briton has also won at the Circuito da Boavista in Porto in 2011 with Chevrolet.

“After losing Macau from the calendar this year, I am excited for it to have been replaced by another high-speed street circuit,” said Huff. “I haven’t been there before and I’m pretty sure nobody else on the WTCC grid has, and, having looked at videos of it, it appears to a very quick circuit and one that will suit me and the Lada Vesta TC1 very well.

“Vila Real is lined with concrete walls and there is zero room for error. Every millimetre of the circuit you use can shave a few tenths off your time, yet pushing the limits too far can send you into the Armco barriers and potentially spell the end of your race.”

After a pair of strong weekends, the Lada Vestas collected 20kg of compensation weight at the last race weekend at Paul Ricard, France, which also didn’t favour the Russian cars. The weekend was also cut short for Huff in an incident at the first chicane with Craft-Bamboo Racing’s Grégoire Demoustier, taking him out of the first race before completing a lap and was unable to take part in race two.

The Ladas of Huff, Nicky Catsburg and Jaap van Lagen will again carry 20kg of compensation weight this weekend at the Portuguese street circuit, the final round of the European leg of the season.

“The aim for this weekend is to do the best we can and, if we can get back to the top five form we showed in Slovakia and Russia, that would be great and I feel that a podium is within reach,” added Huff.