Rob Huff confirms no WTCR programme for 2020

Former World Touring Car champion Rob Huff has confirmed that he won’t be part of the WTCR grid for the 2020 season after the departure of Sébastien Loeb Racing and Volkswagen.

Huff has spent the last two seasons with the team in WTCR, but will now focus on other areas of his career during the year ahead – including development of his Teamwork Huff Motorsport team run alongside the Teamwork Motorsport outfit.

News that the Briton will not compete in WTCR brings to an end a run of 15 years competing at the highest level of touring car competition, with Huff taking in 350 races and winning 31 times – including a record-breaking nine Macau victories.

“Rob is part of the WTCR family and will always remain so,” said Francois Ribeiro, head of Eurosport Events, the WTCR promoter.

“For 15 years he has been a fierce and highly accomplished racer on track and a great ambassador off it. We wish him every success in 2020 and we look forward to seeing him back in the future, hopefully behind the wheel on the WTCR grid.”

The 2012 WTCC title winner will continue to compete in China this year with hopes of adding in historic and GT outings during the season.

“I’m proud to have had this long career in world touring cars, and to have driven in 350 races feels incredible; it really doesn’t feel like it’s been that many,” he said.

“I remember my first win at Brno in 2006 like it was yesterday; but the years that followed were amazing. I had a fantastic time with Chevrolet, winning the 2012 title for them against two incredibly tough team-mates in Alain Menu and Yvan Muller.

“Then picking up lap records and wins at Macau in a Lada was an altogether different challenge – and I’ll have the all-time front-wheel drive lap record at Macau for some time after what we did with that Citroën in 2017.

“For the last two years, Sébastien Loeb Racing and Volkswagen has been my home, and we’ve had a great time together through some ups and downs – to get that pole position at Macau three months ago was incredible given the competition we had to put up with.

“I’m now definitely up for some new challenges, and it’s a good time to regroup and start working on some other things. My immediate focus is on my race team in China; I’ll also do some races over there myself, while also coaching and developing new talent.

“And then something I wasn’t able to do much of last year was much historic racing, which is something I really love, and also maybe get back into some more sports car and GT racing now I have a little more time on my hands.

“It’s been a great chapter in my career, and I’m sure there’s probably plenty more touring car races in my future, but for now I’m really looking forward to a new start for 2020.

“I’d like to thank the many people who have been a part of my World Touring Car journey. There are far too many to thank, but without the support of my family and friends, all this wouldn’t have been possible.”