Small gains net big rewards as Huffy takes race two pole in Argentina
The 2012 World Champion will take up pole position on the reversed grid for Round 16 of the 24-race championship.
Robert Huff, LADA Granta 1.6T, LADA Sport Lukoil
XPB Images
Britain’s Rob Huff grabbed LADA Sport LUKOIL’s first pole position of the 2014 FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) at Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo in Argentina (2 August), creating one of the most memorable moments of his ten-year career on the world stage.
The 2012 World Champion will take up pole position on the reversed grid for Round 16 of the 24-race championship, after a creditable performance saw him qualify his unfancied LADA Granta Sport TC1 in tenth position during a tense session that had both fans and those involved with the LADA Sport LUKOIL programme holding their breath in anticipation.
It was clear from the outset of the weekend in Argentina that the Russian manufacturer outfit had made some decent gains with its red LUKOIL-sponsored machines over the course of the six-week mid-season break, modifications to the Granta’s geometry and weight-saving measures bringing it in line with the Chevrolet and Honda contingent.
Emerging to a round of applause from the assembled LADA Sport LUKOIL mechanics, Huff was thrilled with the result. And in a season where direct communication has been difficult between Huff and his Russian mechanics, the body language broke through the divide, as smiles all round expressed delight at a job well done.
Newmarket-based Huff believes he has a real opportunity to compete with the cars around him, using his racecraft and Champion’s guile to defend against the inevitable onslaught from the works Citroens and Hondas.
“I am genuinely happy for the LADA Sport LUKOIL guys,” said Huff. “The team has worked unbelievable hours and put in so much effort and we haven’t had much to show for it to date, so it will be fantastic to start tomorrow’s second race from pole position!”
Rob Huff
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