Pace of Zengo Motorsport car offers Rob Huff optimism after World Touring Car Cup Race of Hungary

A lap record was the only consolation for Rob Huff in the World Touring Car Cup Race of Hungary.

The Cambridge driver, racing in the Zengo Motorsport CUPRA Leon Competición, had shown promise through the practice rounds and then shocked the field in qualifying.

In qualifying two, he went to the top of the time sheets with 1min 51.528sec, more than half a second faster than previous Hungaroring track record holder Norbert Michelisz.

After going even quicker in qualifying three, 1.51.993, it meant he took pole position.

In the reverse grid race one, Huff went off from 10th, and was up two places quickly but on lap seven, made light contact with a tyre stack going into turn six which snapped the car’s suspension.

In the pit lane, the team decided to try to fix the car within the 15-minute repair time in order to keep pole, but they ran out of time which meant Huff had to start the second race from the pits.

He ended up finishing in 18th.

“It’s been a positive weekend, although it’s obviously a shame it didn’t have the ending we would have wanted,” said Huff.

“The car was fantastic in qualifying. I learned a lot about how to get the pace out of the Goodyear tyres this weekend, which is very different to the tyres we used to have.

“I was watching my timer on my fast lap and I didn’t quite believe it. Coming out of the final corner it was telling me I was nine-tenths faster than my previous best lap.

“Unfortunately, and I put my hands up to it, I made a mistake in race one. My plan for that race was just to protect the car. I managed to pass two drivers at the start without any trouble, and went side-by-side a couple of times with Norbert Michelisz.

“I was just cruising, and then I just caught the tyre stack, and that was enough to break the suspension and there was just too much damage.”

He added: “The car felt fantastic though, and even from there we were able to catch up and pass a few cars.

“The positives are also that I now feel I’ve unlocked the key to qualifying and to getting the pace out of the car this weekend. I have the new lap record at the Hungaroring, the team’s home circuit, and this was also the first pole position for Zengõ Motorsport and the CUPRA Leon Competición in WTCR.

“We can now go into the summer break positive of having a good second half to the season when we race again at Most in Czechia.”