Thruxton Victory Gives Robert Huff the Holiday
Inn SEAT Cupra Championship Title
17 August 2003
Robert Huff is the 2003 Holiday Inn SEAT Cupra Champion after winning
the first of two title deciding races at Thruxton circuit.
Having led the Championship from the second round onwards, the Marshall
of Cambridge Leon Cupra R driver won the title on round nine of the
Holiday Inn SEAT Cupra Championship, with the final round 10 still to
run.
Championship victory has given 23-year old Robert the biggest prize
in British motorsport – a works drive with SEATUKin the 2004 FIA
European Touring Car Championship and all the luxuries that come with
being a professional racing driver, including the use of an apartment
inMonte Carlo.
Having overtaken Gavin Smith at the Thruxton chicane, Robert had settled
for a safe 2nd place when race leader and nearest Championship rival
Stefan Hodgetts came into the pits with a front left puncture. Robert
drove an inch-perfect race for the remaining four laps, locking his
brakes in a title winning celebration slide across the finish line!
Robert said: “I had a good start and was happy to sit in second
place because I knew I’d done enough to making winning the title
in the final Championship race very easy. I was just concentrating
on keeping it smooth and away from the kerbs and making sure I reached
the chequered flag when Stefan suddenly slowed at Goodwood Corner. I
saw that he had a puncture and I really felt for him – he had
the race won and he was very unlucky. From then on it was a case of
driving carefully and I’m simply overjoyed to win the title. It’s
been a fantastic year, I’ve really enjoyed racing in the SEAT
Cupra Championship and now I’m a professional racing driver!”
Jason Plato, ITV Racing Rivals presenter and the Holiday Inn SEAT Cupra
Championship driver mentor, was quick to praise Robert. “In
my opinion, the right man has won the Championship. Rob’s performed
well all year and has been the most consistently fast driver in the
series. He’s turned disappointing grid positions and mishaps
into race wins and points-scoring results, which is exactly what you
need to do to win a championship.”
Stefan was philosophical about the puncture that finally put paid to
his title aspirations in his black loaded backed Leon Cupra R. Recording
the fastest lap of the race – at an average speed of almost 103mph
– came as little consolation.
Stefan said: “That’s Thruxton for you. The surface is notoriously
abrasive and you are either lucky and don’t have punctures or
unlucky and do. Today I was unlucky. I was leading the race
at the time and I know I am miles quicker than anybody else. There is
nothing else I can say.”
The other two drivers who started the race with a chance of winning
the title, Gavin Smith and Gordon Shedden, clashed twice in the same
race. The first time Gordon locked his brakes and accidentally
spun Gavin out of 3rd place, while on the penultimate lap Gavin
and Gordon tangled again, this time with Gordon spinning. Gordon eventually
finished 5th, while Gavin was 12th.
Race pole-sitter James Pickford enjoyed a great race to finish 2nd in
his Abt Sportsline / Haribo Leon, ahead of Julian Westwood – who
finished 3rd in the Championship’s spare car, after his own race
car was replaced because of a mysterious misfire.
Emmet O’Brien recorded his best SEAT race result with 4th in hisDABL
/ Spin 103.8 Leon, finishing ahead of Shedden and Paula Cook in her
EFSLeon.
Stephen Colbert (Auto Trader / Track Smart Leon) and Andre D’Cruze
(Hot Wheels / GamePod Leon) also picked up punctures, while Spencer
Marsh was the only non-finisher after losing engine power on hisShell
/ Sherwood International Leon.
See series calendar for SEAT
Cupra Championship 2003
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