Rob Huff: “We made the right strategic call”

Zengo Motorsport driver Rob Huff claimed an emotional victory in the second Vila Real race, with the team overcoming technical difficulties during the weekend to a successful end result.

“This weekend it has been difficult for us, I mean, it’s always difficult, but this time was also very hot,” said Huff.

“Vila Real is not an easy circuit, but we also had some technical issues as, for some reason, we didn’t have any radio signal between Turns 6 and 22. So we had to work it out and coordinate with my engineer to talk and give messages when I came out of Turn 22.”

Huff gradually worked his way up the order in race two, reaching the lead as his competitors took their joker laps, a move that the Brit left for the last moment possible.

“Our plan was to take it much earlier,” Huff told TouringCarTimes. “But then we had the first safety car and we had to wait, so the team made the strategic call to leave it for as late as possible.

“Then, when I was at the front, I had clear air and was able to push,” added the Cupra driver. “I mean, everybody says that the TCR cars don’t have much aero, and maybe not as much as the TC1s, but they still have some aero and suffer when you are behind other car and getting dirty air, especially in a track like this.”

Almost immediately after Huff took his joker lap, team-mate Dániel Nagy crashed out of the race.

“We were seeing Rob at the front, he came for the joker lap and returned in the front and thought there were only two laps left,” team owner Zoltan Zengo told TouringCarTimes. “But then, in a second, we saw Dániel in the tyre barrier and didn’t know what was going to happen.

“So we were waiting and counting, everybody was very nervous,” added Zoltan. “When we saw the chequered flag we couldn’t believe it, we had done it!”

Zengo Motorsport’s 2022 WTCR programme was secured very late, making the strong result this weekend even more special for the team.

“It has been so difficult for us, but the guys are working very well, things are flowing in the team and we just pull together,” added Zengo. “And this is important, because it’s more points and better championship possibilities, and more money, for us.”