Rob Huff hails “fantastic race” with four world champion level drivers

Rob Huff has called the opening race at the Nürburgring one of the most exciting of his career, after a three-lap battle for the victory with the Hyundais of touring car stars Yvan Muller, Thed Björk and Norbert Michelisz.

Huff had made swift progress to move up to third from fifth on the grid by the time the cars ventured onto the legendary Nordschleife circuit, and from then was involved in a battle to move ahead of both of the YMR Hyundais of Yvan Muller and Thed Björk ahead of him, and to keep the BRC Hyundai of Norbert Michelisz behind.

“I had to use my years of experience of positioning the car to make sure Norbi couldn’t pass and also give me a chance on the last straight,” said Huff to TouringCarTimes. “I know that move a little bit because I overtook (Tom) Chilton the same way on the last lap here last year.

“When you’re racing like this, it’s all about trust. I’ve been with Yvan here for ten years and he was my team-mate, I’ve had some great races with Thed (Björk) and he’s the world champion, and Norbi is the only non-world champion who really deserves to be one and it was really fantastic racing.”

Huff had been held up in qualifying by the Boutsen Ginion Honda of Benjamin Lessennes, for which the Belgian received a three-place penalty, and considers the podium result retribution.

“We got baulked a little bit in qualifying; I think we could have been P3 on the grid, so to get what I felt we deserved back is really good,” he said.

“I still feel the Hyundais are playing with us a little bit. The new compensation weight helps. I think we now have the edge on Honda, but the Hyundais are still a bit quick, but it’s all part of the game, I’m happy as best-of-the-rest.”