Rob Huff: why ex-champion was the underdog racer of 2022

“One week before the season started we took delivery of the Cupra factory test car, with a whole barrel-load of new parts. It arrived in Budapest on the Sunday, the guys built the car and didn’t sleep for two days, I shook it down on the Tuesday morning at the Hungaroring for half an hour – it had fuel pick-up problems. We threw both cars in the truck and off we went to Pau for the first WTCR round. I guess we’re going then! We arrived on Thursday but the trucks didn’t get to Pau until Friday morning. We had to change the whole fuelling system in my car, but somehow in the first free practice session on Saturday morning the car ran, and ran well. We did enough to qualify, race well and score some points.

In a world-level opener, in what amounted to a brand new and unsorted car, Zengő and Huff had turned up and grabbed a 12th place finish in race one and a remarkable eighth in race two. “Not the best start to the season, but not the worst,” says Rob. “Literally one week before we were not racing at all.”

But that was only the start. Yes, the WTCR was down on entries this year, but it was still highly competitive, featuring works-supported customer teams and fast drivers Huff knows well. So his run of results after that Pau opener should not be underestimated or downplayed. Following the controversy of tyre-related race cancellations at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, the WTCR arrived in Zengő’s Hungaroring backyard – and Huff finished second in the reverse-grid second encounter, chasing Cyan Lynk & Co’s quick Uruguayan Santi Urrutia all the way to the flag and snatching fastest lap along the way.

Then on to Aragon, he scored a sensational pair of second places – so three runner-up placings on the bounce – then claimed a fairy-tale win in Vila Real, Portugal. The street track is the only WTCR round to feature a rallycross-style ‘joker lap’, with a short alternative route created for one section that must be taken once a race. Huff played his joker to perfection as old rival Yvan Muller made an uncharacteristic error, to allow Rob to win what was the WTCR’s 100th race. Another overall race victory at the little-known Anneau du Rhin circuit in France capped a fantastic summer and left Huff in a remarkable third in the overall standings. He’d also already wrapped up the WTCR Trophy for independent entries and although Azcona and Hyundai had a comfortable lead at the top of the standings, Huff’s status as a title contender was little short of astonishing. Classic underdog stuff, in fact.

“I have driven better this year almost more than I ever have,” says Huff with obvious pride. “The last time I drove this well was probably 2011 when Yvan Muller pipped me to the championship. Even in my world championship year [2012] I didn’t drive as well or as clever as I did this year. I took the opportunities when they were there and made the best of bad situations. We finished every race in the points.”

Sadly, Zengő’s minnow status caught up with the team ahead of the penultimate round when a financial shortfall forced Huff to take a decision he hated. He chose not to race in Bahrain and focused instead on a return to Macau – no longer a part of the WTCR in the wake of Covid – to extend his wins record around the great street track to 11, in an MG.

By this time, it had been announced that the troubled WTCR was to finish. Huff returned for the final round in Jeddah as Azcona became the final champion, the season ending on a bit of a low note when points rival Nathanaël Berthon clobbered Rob at the final turn. The Audi driver came off worst, but his stranded car meant the series went out with a whimper, finishing behind the safety car. Still, nothing could take away Huff’s achievement. Even having missed Bahrain he ended up sixth overall in the final standings.

“I’m 100% sure if we had done Bahrain we would have finished P2 in the championship because Bahrain was super-strong for the car,” he asserts.

He pays tribute to Zengő and a band-of-brothers team that has a proper family feel about it. “I’ve achieved a lot this year and the team deserves it,” says Huff. “The mechanics and engineers, they put their life and soul into this thing. They are a very high-level team considering the foundations. We are not a team that has any money or support from a manufacturer, yet the level they work to is very high. Also none of them have got experience outside of Zengő Motorsport, they have all learnt their way with this team in Hungarian motor sport. They are proper troopers and warriors.”

The future is uncertain for touring cars at world level following the demise of WTCR. But plans are forming for a ‘world tour’ – a small number of races running in alliance with the European TCR series, plus national championships in regions such as Australia and possibly South America. A world ranking points system is set to be created, as drivers work towards scoring enough to qualify for a one-off World Cup at the end of the season. Macau would be a great venue for that – especially for circuit specialist Huff.

Rob is interested to hear more as and when details become available. “It’s a good idea, but there are a lot of questions to be asked and answered,” he says. But it sounds like something I’d love to be involved in.”

Inevitably, he has irons in the fire. Well-connected in Asian motor sport circles, Huff has raced regularly in China and makes a good living as an international touring car specialist. He’ll be just fine. “I still feel I’m very good at driving,” he says with a chuckle, “and I prove that year on year. The only thing that really appeals is the top world level, but let’s see.”

Huff will be 43 on Christmas Day, as he, his partner and their dogs prepare to relocate to Spain in the new year. There’s plenty for him to look forward to. At the same time he’ll never forget 2022 and one of the most amazing and unexpected seasons of his fine career.