Rob Huff will make his début racing in Scandinavia in 2020, racing in the TCR Scandinavia series, after signing a deal to race a Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR for the Lestrtup Racing Team.
Huff confirmed earlier this year that he would not continue in World Touring Cars, marking the end of a 15-year consecutive run in the WTCC and WTCR.
The Brit has now confirmed his drive in Sweden, where he will pair up alongside a yet-to-be-confirmed team-mate.
Huff will also race the last-produced Golf GTi made by Volkswagen Motorsport, bearing the chassis number #120.
“I’m delighted to be joining the Lestrup Racing Team and to be facing a new challenge this year, racing in STCC TCR Scandinavia,” said Huff, who follows in the footsteps of fellow Brits James Thompson and Colin Turkington in racing in Scandinavia.
“A few team-mates of mine have raced in the championship before, and we know from the level of drivers that have come from the STCC and raced with me in the world championship, that the level is very high for a national series, which means it’s genuinely exciting to be racing here.
“The Lestrup Racing Team is a fantastic squad, and I know they have their sights set high this year. My aim is to bring all my years of experience developing the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR in the field, and help the team unlock the potential of the car and take the fight to the front.
“Of course, I’ve not raced at any of the circuits on the calendar, so that’s exciting but also a challenge.
“[There’s] only a short amount of time to learn the circuits against a field of drivers who’ve been racing in Scandinavia for many years – but I’m up for it and really looking forward to the season ahead.”
Lestrup Racing Team last competed in the STCC in 2018. Team Manager and co-owner Fredrik Lestrup is looking forward to working with the 2012 World Touring Car Champion in the coming season.
“We are really proud to welcome Rob to the team; he is one of the best touring car drivers in the world,” said Lestrup. “He is very much a key part of our 2020 STCC programme and for us to take the next step forward.
“We are a young team and we believe in ourselves, especially after the 2018 STCC season and the endurance programme last year.
“We have created our strongest programme so far thanks to hard work and thanks to our partners. This does of course put pressure on us, we need to deliver but that motivates us strongly at the same time.”
Team co-owner and Chief Mechanic Totte Malmkvist believes that Huff’s vast touring car experience will pay dividends in 2020.
“We are really happy to continue racing with the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR and to represent Volkswagen Stockholm that has been a partner to us since 2017,” said Malmkvist.
“The team and Rob have got vast experience of the car and we look forward to continue building on that together.
“We are humbly raising the bar for this season. The opposition is tough, and it would be a mistake to underestimate the challenge for an international driver like Rob to take on the Scandinavian circuits.
“But we have a solid test plan to provide us and Rob with the right conditions to challenge the big teams in this year’s title fight.”