Rob Huff wins ahead of Dan Lloyd in CTCC Race 1 at Ningbo

Rob Huff won the first race of the weekend of the China Touring Car Championship at the Ningbo International Speedpark for Volkswagen ahead of the BAIC Senova of Dan Lloyd, despite both drivers serving a pit-lane drive-through penalty.

Huff started from pole position in the very wet conditions in the SAIC VW333 Racing Volkswagen Lamando GTS, but was challenged by Lloyd’s Senova D70 down through Turn 1 and into Turn 2.

Huff went wide at Turn 2, but was able to rejoin ahead of Lloyd, who was followed by his team-mate Juan Carlos Zhu, while also at Turn 2, He Zi Xian spun out in his Haima Z1 and retired from the race.

The two Brits began to pull a lead out front, while Leo Yi Hong Li passed his Kia team-mate Jim Ka To for fourth on lap two, with the two Kias now being chased by Macanese driver Rodolfo Avila in the second-best of the Volkswagens.

Alex Fontana was making progress in his Kia, and was into the top ten, before a short visit to the pits on lap six for a jump-start penalty.

A lap later, and then Rob Huff also headed through the pit-lane for the same offence, rejoining ahead of Juan Carlos Zhu’s Senova in second position, with Lloyd now more than ten seconds clear.

Lloyd’s lead was short-lived however, with the 25-year-old also pitting two laps later, also deemed guilty of jumping the start, and rejoining behind Huff’s Volkswagen.

Huff would go on to win the race ahead of Lloyd, with Juan Carlos Zhu completing the podium.

The best-placed of the Changan Ford FRD Team drivers was Andy Yan in tenth.

David Zhu still leads the championship after finishing seventh, but is now seven points clear of Jiang Tengyi’s Volkswagen, with Martin Cao falling to third, 9.5 points behind.

The top 12 will be reversed for Race 2, which places Kia’s Alex Fontana on pole position ahead of Rainey He’s Ford tomorrow at 12:12 CST (6:12 CET).