Brno 2006: Huff bags maiden win.

Sunday, 3rd September 2006

Rob Huff claimed his first and only Chevrolet's second ever World Touring Car Championship victory in the second race of the day at Brno, holding off Andy Priaulx from start to finish to lead home a British 1-2.

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Up at the front though it was Huff who was left to a never entirely comfortable, but nonetheless unchallenged first win in the WTCC, the Cambridge driver expanding his points tally from six to 17 points, a stellar achievement having been forced to start the first race from 24th place on the grid.

Priaulx admitted he was thinking of his championship lead on the way to not fighting Huff for victory, although with a fifth and second place finish, the Brit has now moved clear by nine points in the championship - the largest leading margin it has been all season.

A rather sheepish Yvan Muller crossed the line third, although he is now under investigation for his incident with Zanardi, while Jorg Muller's fourth place could also be in doubt following his coming together with Menu earlier in the race.

Fifth fell to Dirk Muller on a lacklustre weekend for the German, although he did manage to get the better of Jordi Gene, following a race long battle and several minor physical scrapes. Nicola Larini completed a fantastic day for Chevrolet with seventh place and two points, while Zanardi's last lap retirement allowed Peter Terting to take the final point on an otherwise low-key weekend for the German.

Although he started third and ran as high as fifth, it was not Tom Coronel who was popping the champagne on the podium to toast yet another independent victory, the Dutchman retiring mid-way through the race having slipped rapidly down the order.

Instead independent victory and 11th place overall was claimed by Stefano D'Aste in his Proteam BMW, just ahead of team-mate Luca Rangoni in the newer shape 3-Series, the Italian battling up from the back of the grid. However, his result is also pending investigation following a clash with Ryan Sharp, the Scot crossing the line in fifth place.

Third place in class therefore went to Vincent Radermacker, the Belgian proving that potential 2007 WTCC graduates Maurer Motorsport can possibly be a force to be reckoned should they enter next season.