BTCC Rob Huff

[Tiptop]

How well is Rob Huff going to do in the BTCC ?
I'm not slating Rob Huff in any way but I did think that Hodgetts was a better driver but.....hey he didin't win.

I would like to know if anyone has any thoughts on how he will compare against Jason Plato etc although I'm not convinced the BTCC field is that strong anymore ?

One final thought wasn't the prize a drive in the ETCC and not BTCC

Tiptop

[btcc-lad]

yes the prize was etcc but the british touring car championship went to etcc spec cars so thay are going to race in britan and rob should do well if the car performs and is as reliable as vauxell has been this year could be in tersting.

[kristof14]

wasnt the other part of the prize a flat in monaco for a year? did he still get that, seems a bit pointless living in monaco whilst only competing in the uk?

[Paul Millard]

i thing he got the use of the flat and £30,000 salary drive. i also note he won teh clio scolaship a few years back so he is talented but im not going to say how well he may or may not do im just glad to have another car out

[andy_b]

I think you'll find Hodgetts will be there too, and in more of a front running team

[acf8181]

i'd say that a)they'll both be in the btcc, and b)there both extremely good drivers.

however, i think rob is the more complete driver at this stage.

[Super Tourer]

Originally posted by kristof14
wasnt the other part of the prize a flat in monaco for a year? did he still get that, seems a bit pointless living in monaco whilst only competing in the uk?

The flat is Plato's, who moved out there last year, so really it's a bit of a gimmick for the winner, I think Huff as 'use' of it - not as a place to live in!

[Les]

looking at all the Seat races last year I believe Rob is the better of the two (and yes I know I am a mate of Rob's).
If you look at the races that Stefan didn't finish it was through driver mishandling of the car - his brakes failed at OP through over use? At Thruxton he punctured his tyre - again because of the way he drives.
Stefan might be quicker - his qualifying shows that but he is harder on a car and Mr Consistency always wins in the end. IMO

Now Rob V Jason - I am just waiting for JP to get in some argybargy with Yvan and co and for Rob to beat him

[darcym]

huff seemed like a spolit little kiddie funded by his dad. He spent his time being praised by his dad and moaning. He drove well but hodges was more deserving

[Craner Curves]

Originally posted by Les
looking at all the Seat races last year I believe Rob is the better of the two (and yes I know I am a mate of Rob's).
If you look at the races that Stefan didn't finish it was through driver mishandling of the car - his brakes failed at OP through over use? At Thruxton he punctured his tyre - again because of the way he drives.

How can you over use brakes? He had a failure and wasn't the only one to have problems with their brakes. And as for Thruxton, hardly a high profile meeting goes by without someone getting a big puncture - it's the nature of the place.

[touringcarnut]

Originally posted by Craner Curves
How can you over use brakes?

Quite easily, especially if you are a heavy left-foot braker. Its why drivers like Muller dislike Donnington, as its hard on the brakes, and even harder if you rely on the left foot braking technique as much as he does.

[JnrJnr]

Will hodgetts be in touring cars this year? i read in Autosport that the drive was between him and Alan Menu, and Menus has swiss manufacture support. I think hodgetts is good, but would menu not get the nod over him?

[touringcarnut]

Originally posted by JnrJnr
Will hodgetts be in touring cars this year? i read in Autosport that the drive was between him and Alan Menu, and Menus has swiss manufacture support. I think hodgetts is good, but would menu not get the nod over him?

For the sake of the series it would be good to see Menu return, no disrespect to Hodgetts. As much as i hope it to happen, I just can't see the 'Menu deal' materialising...

[touringlegend]

Huff certainly wasn't backwards in coming forwards last year which I think will be good for the BTCC this year providing he has someone to compete with. And if there is I'm pretty sure any of the drivers in the BTCC are capable of taking the fight to him.

[Andy Metcalf]

Well the one thing Rob Huff must do now that he is in BTCC prove himself. And judging from his commitment and competitive nature I am sure he will give it everything that he has got.

[racingdad]

Originally posted by darcym
. He drove well but hodges was more deserving

All Steff had to do was win the championship - he didn't, Rob did. Being the fastest isn't always the way to win a championship - there is something called consistency too.

[acf8181]

stef made a few too many errors didn't he!

[Les]

I wouldn't say errors - I can't think of any actual errors he made but he just didn't finish when he should have. You listen to what he says and a number of times he cut short qualifying because he was on pole, because he didn't think he could go any further and because he wanted to save his tyres. He obviously knew he could be having a problem with them. And to win you have to finish.

[acf8181]

well, i'd say oulton was a pretty obvious mistake...he'd had brakes fade at the previous corner (and punted james pickford off), then proceded to try and brake as per normal at the next corner!!

things like saving tyres in practice/qualifying will have been a direct result of his fathers input.

[racingdad]

Steff is a nice guy - and quick too, but utterly dominated by Chris, so I tend to agree with acf8181 - Dad controls his every move in qualifying and he was spot on with the set up, even on the tyre call in qualifying. In the races Steff's errors were all his own - including Oulton where, as noted, he had already had the warning when he hit Pickford and should have been wary of his brakes for the next corner.

[Neil Adams]

Originally posted by andy_b
I think you'll find Hodgetts will be there too, and in more of a front running team

Arena has a seat available, the current trend of which drivers have got seats would suggest that Hodgetts has a fair chance.

Cant really comment on the Hodgetts vs Huff debate as i didnt see all the races or much coverage, i wanted to get the racing rivals dvd of last year but it appears to be non existent.

IMO thruxton is a very difficult track for you to have a first race, i mean its very fast, i suspect most of the btcc newbies to be behind the established drivers.

[Andy Roberts]

Huffy is a top driver, I've raced with him quite a bit and won an enduro karting championship with him back in 2001. He is a very complete driver and has a lot of experience compared to some of the other drivers in the championship and does understand that consitancy as well as speed with championships.

Hodgetts is a blooming good driver as well, he just suffered from a lot of bad look and a few mistakes but will definatly get there.

Both deserved to win but in the end they both will as Hodgetts will end up in Touring Cars anyway based on talent, Huffy just got there a little quicker.

[ATF]

But this deal is only for 2004, so unless Huff impresses, his BTCC career could well be over!!

[Neil Adams]

As we well know successful year or not, funding is what counts.

[Tiptop]

btcc-thunder why don't you tape the series that is repeated over and over again on Bravo I now know the series off by heart as it's on all the bloody time!!!