Rob Huff brings up the WTCR ton in style with Vila Real victory in the Race of Portugal
Rob Huff made history at the WTCR Race of Portugal in Vila Real, winning the WTCR − FIA World Touring Car Cup’s 100th race in dramatic fashion.
The 42-year-old Cambridge-based driver made the Joker Lap, the alternative route unique to Vila Real, prove decisive on the iconic
street track.
It had already helped Cyan Lynk & Co’s Santiago Urrutia win race one, with Huff finishing sixth in the Zengo Motorsport CUPRA Leon Competición.
But things got a lot better in the second race of the weekend.
He had started fourth on the grid but had risen to second, having held off from taking his own Joker, and waited to do so until lap 12 by which time he had successfully built enough of a gap to allow him to retain
his lead.
Seconds later, team-mate Dániel Nagy crashed into the wall on the exit of the chicane and was collected by Comtoyou DHL Team Audi Sport’s Nathanaël Berthon, triggering the second safety car interruption of
the race.
Had the accident happened before Huff took his Joker, the Briton would have lost the race. As it was, he was able to lead the field home under caution to claim a landmark win for himself, the team and the WTCR.
“A good job we didn’t leave it any later obviously because of the safety car,” said a delighted Huff.
“The decision was made for me; these guys [Tassi and Azcona] both Jokered one lap apart from each other and we were discussing when you are in clean air you can go one second a lap faster.
“My engineer was great on the radio telling me everything that was going on and we got the gap.
“The car was mega and somehow – it’ll take me a while to work out how – we won it. It’s mega for the title, the team, for the crowd and everyone
at home.”
With eight races of the season remaining, Huff is in fourth place overall in the standings, 23 points behind leader Mikel Azcona, and 36 points ahead in the WTCR Trophy for independent racers.
Huff said: “We came into this season with not exactly many aspirations and not a lot of confidence.
“As everyone knows, two weeks before the first race we weren’t racing and here we are mixing it at the front with the big boys and big teams.
“It’s just amazing to be a part of such an emotionally passionate team about motor sport. Zoltan has been in this paddock for 12-15 years, everyone knows him, he’s a huge character and this year everything so far has come together. Long may it continue.”
He added: “I would just like to say a huge congratulations to Vila Real, the real winner this weekend.
“Tiago’s done the most amazing job, the whole team behind the scenes to make this event what it is. We all love coming here and not having been here for three years, just amazing. And that podium is just something else.”
Rounds 11 and 12 of the 2022 WTCR − FIA World Touring Car Cup take place at Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi near Rome, Italy, from
July 22-24.
