Rob Huff makes impact in China Touring Car Championship in Shangahi

Rob Huff made an impact in a second and final appearance in this season’s China Touring Car Championship at the Shanghai International Circuit.

The 39-year-old Cambridge-based driver was taking a break from the World Touring Car Cup to compete for the SAIC Volkswagen 333 Racing team.

He made a bright start by putting the Lamando GTS on pole position by 0.055 seconds, from former WTCR driver Pepe Oriola.

In a randomised, reversed grid first race – made via a draw – Huff had to start near the back of the grid, but on the opening lap made eight places to go up to sixth.

He carried on picking his way up the order to engage in a battle with Jason Zhang, Andy Yan and Rainey He.

The two Hong Kong-based drivers collided, and with Zhang caught in the fracas, Huff popped through to take the lead, but with the ballast system making Oriola’s car 55kg lighter, he was able to take the win ahead of Huff on the fifth lap.

“When the two Fords crashed, the front of my car was also slightly damaged, but against Pepe (Oriola), we couldn’t fight as our car’s just too heavy – but the racing here is still great fun, to come from 14th to finish in P2 is a fantastic result,” said Huff.

Huff started the second race on pole, and had an early battle with Oriola, who developed a mechanical issue that forced him off the track.

Huff went on to win by more than four seconds from He and Yan.

“I didn’t have a very good start, and Pepe got me, but our engineers had worked hard overnight and transformed the car,” said Huff.

“I could see by about lap four Pepe was really struggling and he went long at the hairpin, and that allowed me to get the cut back and get past him, and after that I never saw him again.”

He added: “I want to say a huge congratulations to the team, as they’ve done a fantastic job with the car considering the weight we’re carrying.

“I’m over the moon with the results we’ve been able to achieve this weekend.

“Unfortunately, I was supposed to be doing the last race in Wuhan, but it now clashes with WTCR in Malasyia, so I wish the team the best of luck.”