Rob Huff secures full-time BTCC return with Speedworks
Rob Huff will make a full-time return to the British Touring Car Championship this year after inking a deal to join Speedworks Motorsport.
Two decades on from his only full campaign in the BTCC, the 44-year-old will partner 2023 Jack Sears Trophy title winner Andrew Watson at TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK.
Since debuting in the series in 2004, the Cambridge-born racer has enjoyed unprecedented global success which has included clinching the FIA World Touring Car Championship crown in 2012 and a record eleven victories at the Macau Grand Prix – among many other accolades.
In that time Huff has also made sporadic appearances in the BTCC, firstly in 2017 – where he scored a podium – before most recently starring at Knockhill last season.
“It feels like I’ve come full circle, 20 years on,” said Huff. “I’ve always been a huge supporter of the BTCC – I began my racing career in Britain and I’ve been looking to come back for a little while,”
“Last year, I really ramped up those efforts to return; I was given the opportunity to compete at Knockhill, which whetted my appetite for more while allowing me to get my name back in the frame and talk to people face-to-face.
“The main priority for me was to ensure I ended up in a potential championship-winning car with people who share my passion and enthusiasm for the sport – and at TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK, that’s what I believe I’ve found.
“I’ve got to say, I’m probably more excited for this new challenge than I have been in a long time – it just feels perfectly right – and I’m delighted to be working with Andrew [Watson], too. He’s clearly a very quick guy who represents himself very well both on and off-track.
“We all share the same values, and we’re all pushing for the same goal, which is to drive the whole team forward and to arrive at Brands Hatch at the end of the season in with a shout of winning the title.”
Speedworks team principal Christian Dick was quick to welcome the former World Champion to the works Toyota squad.
“It goes without saying that we are thrilled to bring a driver of Rob’s calibre and success on-board for the forthcoming campaign,” he said. “His record in the sport speaks for itself – he has raced against, and regularly beaten, the very best in the world, and he is just as razor-sharp now as he was when he started out more than two decades ago.
“When he tested the Corolla last year, he instantly felt at home and his wealth of experience of driving different cars will be hugely beneficial as we continue to strive to extract every last ounce of performance out of the Toyota – while offering an invaluable bank of knowledge for Andrew [Watson] to draw upon in his second season in the championship.
“We’re tremendously excited about the potential in the team this year and can’t wait to get going!”
