Autosportfoto

Huff helps a friend (and fellow WTCC racer) in need

Rob Huff is putting his FIA World Touring Car Championship on-track rivalry with Tom Chilton to one side by agreeing to deputise for his friend and fellow Briton in a race at Silverstone in the UK this weekend.

Huff, WTCC champion in 2012, is returning to the British Touring Car Championship for the first time since 2004 when he takes over Chilton's factory-supported Vauxhall Astra.

Chilton is contesting the BTCC alongside his race-winning WTCC campaign with Sébastien Loeb Racing but has been forced to take a four-week break from competition as he convalesces following an operation.

"I had quite a big operation last week but two days before that I twisted my ankle running to keep really fit so I could recover from the operation quickly," Chilton, pictured right with Huff, explained. "But advice from six doctors and four surgeons says there's a high risk of internal bleeding [if I have an accident]. It's going to be great that Rob is in for a round. I'm frustrated I won't be there to do it myself but it's not worth the risk."

Huff, who is equal on points with Chilton and Mehdi Bennani in the WTCC Trophy standings but one place behind Chilton in the overall title race, said: "Although I'm battling with Tom for the independents' title in the WTCC, we're good mates away from the track, and he wanted someone behind the wheel this weekend who he could trust to do a good job now that the car is starting to come on strong. I hope Tom gets well soon so he can be back behind the wheel for [the next race at] Brands Hatch, then I'll see him a few weeks' later so we can race together again in the WTCC [in China]."

WTCC Race of China takes place at the all-new Ningbo International Speedpark from 13-15 October.

Zdroj: fiawtcc.com