Rob Huff says that this weekend’s World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) race meeting in Moscow is the ‘highlight of the season’ due to the event being the home race of Russian manufacturer LADA.
British driver Huff heads to the Russian capital for the second successive year as a works’ driver for the manufacturer, and he recognises the importance to both the marque and also the team’s title sponsor, Russian oil and gas giant Rosneft.
“As a LADA SPORT driver, the WTCC’s annual visit to the Russia and the Moscow Raceway is the highlight of the season,” said Huff. “To go to Moscow Raceway with the home brand and perform in front of the patriotic home fans is always a real honour and it will be a proud moment when we line up on the grid with the new-for-2015 LADA Vesta.”
Huff will be joined by a new team-mate in Nick Catsburg this weekend, with the GT racer joining fellow Dutchman Jaap van Lagen in the team, who himself only stepped in for the last event in Germany.
“The weekend will take on a slightly different flavour with two new teammates in Jaap van Lagen and Nick Catsburg. I obviously raced alongside Jaap in the WTCC’s Race of Germany, but that being on the Nürburgring Nordschleife makes it a very unique experience and I am keen to see how I shape up against both my teammates on a conventional racetrack.
“Having said that, I am ultimately focusing on myself and I’m committed to delivering the best possible results for LADA, ROSNEFT and the Russian fans on home soil.”
As a result of the team’s mid-season driver changes, Mikhail Kozlovskiy will not compete in his home event and it remains unclear whether the Russian driver will re-join the team. It is understood that former driver James Thompson and LADA have now parted ways for good.