|
Huff battles to double points at Estoril |
Rob Huff has moved up to fifth in the World Touring Car Championship standings following a double points scoring finish in the latest rounds of the season at Estoril.
The Chevrolet driver recovered from being tipped into a half spin at the start of race one to bring his Lacetti home in fourth place and then took fifth in race two despite being forced to nurse a damaged car to the chequered flag.
Huff was on the pace during Friday testing and was then quickest in the second free practice session on Saturday ahead of qualifying. Huff qualified in fourth place but on the rolling start, he was tagged by the SEAT of Jordi Gene at turn one and was lucky not to spin out of the race.
Having lost positions and with the rear alignment on the car out, Huff was forced to fight hard for the remained of the race but managed to overtake both Gene and Andy Priaulx to finish just off the podium in fourth.
“I had a good start and was running level with Rickard Rydell towards the end of the straight,” he said. “I then could go only one way, so I thought 'be brave' and went around the outside. Then someone hit Jordi Gene and he tapped me into a half spin and I lost a couple of places. I then sat behind Andy Priaulx and Jordi for some eight laps at which time I thought it was time to interfere. I had looked after my tyres so I could make two good moves near the end and bring home more points, which was very good.”
Further contact with Gene at the start of race two damaged the steering on the Lacetti and left Huff with a battle on his hands for the twelve lap race, but he was able to bring the car home in the points once again in fifth.
“In race two I was following the SEATs when Yvan Muller pushed Jordi out of the way, but he came back on the track and gave a big swipe which bent the steering,” he said. “From then on I had really bad understeer and it was just a matter of saving as many points as I could.
“In the end I've come away from Portugal with nine points and moved up a place in the World Championship – so all in all, it wasn't a bad race weekend.”
