Rob Huff (Chevrolet) claimed his maiden World Touring Car Championship title at this weekend’s season finale in Macau.
The Brit, who arrived in Macau as the championship leader, 37 and 42 points ahead of teammates Alain Menu and Yvan Muller, started race 1 from pole position, but almost lost everything when he crashed in the barrier as he was leading the race.
Muller won ahead of Menu, which meant both men got significantly closer to Rob Huff in championship standings before race 2.
As he assumed the leade of race 2, Menu was virtually world champion since Huff was only 9th. But the Englishman fought his way back up to sixth position, which was enough to put him back in the championship lead.
He then moved to positions further up the order when Muller collided with Alex McDowell’s private Chevrolet, at the Mandarin corner. Huff had time to move up to fourth before the safety car came out.
As they crossed the finish, Alain Menu led ahead of Huff and Muller, giving Chevrolet a 1-2-3 win for its very last WTCC race as a work team.
Rob Huff’s 2012 WTCC title is his first.
Norbert Michelisz (BMW) wins the independent trophy.
Final championship classification:
1.Huff 413 points (champion) ; 2.Menu 401; 3.Muller 393; 4.Tarquini 252; 5.Coronel 207; 6.Michelisz 155; 7.D'Aste 144; 8.Oriola 131; 9.Monteiro 95; 10.Bennani, MacDowall 68, etc.
The Brit, who arrived in Macau as the championship leader, 37 and 42 points ahead of teammates Alain Menu and Yvan Muller, started race 1 from pole position, but almost lost everything when he crashed in the barrier as he was leading the race.
Muller won ahead of Menu, which meant both men got significantly closer to Rob Huff in championship standings before race 2.
As he assumed the leade of race 2, Menu was virtually world champion since Huff was only 9th. But the Englishman fought his way back up to sixth position, which was enough to put him back in the championship lead.
He then moved to positions further up the order when Muller collided with Alex McDowell’s private Chevrolet, at the Mandarin corner. Huff had time to move up to fourth before the safety car came out.
As they crossed the finish, Alain Menu led ahead of Huff and Muller, giving Chevrolet a 1-2-3 win for its very last WTCC race as a work team.
Rob Huff’s 2012 WTCC title is his first.
Norbert Michelisz (BMW) wins the independent trophy.
Final championship classification:
1.Huff 413 points (champion) ; 2.Menu 401; 3.Muller 393; 4.Tarquini 252; 5.Coronel 207; 6.Michelisz 155; 7.D'Aste 144; 8.Oriola 131; 9.Monteiro 95; 10.Bennani, MacDowall 68, etc.