Huff is relishing his return to the Touring Car Championship
CAMBRIDGE DRIVER TO MAKE HIS BTCC COMEBACK AFTER 19 YEARS
ROB Huff will make a long awaited full-time return to the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship this year after putting pen-to-paper on a deal that will see him drive for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK.
Two decades on from his only complete campaign in the UK’s premier motorsport series, Huff will team up with Speedworks Motorsport to pilot a manufacturer-backed Toyota Corolla GR Sport this year.
Highly regarded as one of the most successful touring car drivers of his generation, the 44-year-old is returning to British shores having achieved unrivalled success on the global stage, where he has claimed multiple titles, wins and podiums.
After bursting onto the BTCC scene in 2004 with the works SEAT squad, the Cambridge-born racer switched to the FIA World Touring Car Championship a year later and clinched the crown in 2012 with Chevrolet.
That triumph provided the springboard for him to achieve a string of other accolades including lifting the Swedish Touring Car Championship in 2020, the FIA WTCR Trophy in 2022 and scoring a record 11 victories at the world-famous Macau Grand Prix.
In total, the two-time BRDC Gold Star recipient has scored more than 40 victories on the world stage whilst representing Chevrolet, Honda, Lada, Volkswagen, Cupra and Audi.
Alongside the worldwide accomplishments, Huff - who is also a Performance Pathway Director for Fewkes Sport Management - never forgot his roots and made a handful of appearances in the BTCC; the first in 2017 where he scored a podium at Silverstone.
Now aligned with Speedworks, who have championship-winning pedigree in the series, two-time race winner Huff is highly motivated and focused to begin his pursuit for the one crown that is so far missing from his trophy cabinet.
“It feels like I’ve come full circle in my career and I’m absolutely delighted to be returning to the BTCC on a full-time basis, 20 years on,” said Huff.
“I’ve always been a huge supporter of the championship and I’ve have had my sights set on retuning to the series for some time now; it’s great to now be back.
“The main priority for me was to ensure I’m 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 like what they do and how the go about doing it.
“I’ve got to say a massive thank you to everyone at Toyota GB, Christian (Dick) and Amy (Dick) and all of my personal partners for giving me this opportunity.
“Also, Will (Fewkes) at Fewkes Sport Management deserves a huge amount of credit for helping put this deal together.
“Between all of us we have put together a strong infrastructure that I believe will give us a fantastic opportunity to not only fight for wins and podiums on a regular basis, but also launch a serious championship challenge. I can’t wait to get going.”
The 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season begins at Donington Park on the 27/28 April.