Rob Huff: “Portugal probably cost us the championship”

Rob Huff has remarked that the disaster at Portugal, in which he and Sébastien Loeb Racing team-mate Mehdi Bennani crashed out from the front row of Race 1 and missed the rest of the weekend with both cars written off, probably cost him the 2018 title.

“Macau master” Huff put his Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR on pole position twice at Macau, but missed out on following up on his record nine victories, after better starts from WRT’s Jean-Karl Vernay in Race 1, and then the Munnich Honda of Esteban Guerrieri in Race 3, deprived him of victory.

The 38-year-old hauled himself back to joint-sixth in the standings as a result however, 64 points behind champion Gabriele Tarquini’s BRC Racing Team Hyundai.

“If we hadn’t had the weekend we had in Portugal, we’d have been here fighting for the championship, which is good to know,” said Huff to TouringCarTimes. “When the last round of the year is in Macau, I’m confident enough we can win.

“Everyone’s had a couple of bad weekends, but ultimately Portugal was our own disaster, and if we hadn’t had that, 64 points would have been quite achievable that weekend I think. But what could have been, could have been.”

Huff also confirmed he’ll be back on the grid next year, his third year racing for Volkswagen in a TCR championship, and hopes to be back with Sébastien Loeb Racing as well.

“I will certainly be racing a Volkswagen next year, exactly what we’re going to do and with how many drivers etc. is currently unclear and won’t be clear for a few weeks, but I will be driving a Volkswagen in the WTCR and I hope it’s for Sébastien Loeb Racing.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with them, they’re a hugely professional team and have done me proud this year…I really feel like part of the team, and long may it continue.”