TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK has completed its driver line-up for the 2024 British Touring Car Championship campaign with the recruitment of former FIA World Touring Car Champion Rob Huff.
To motor racing fans, Huff needs little introduction. Crowned WTCC Champion in 2012 – beating no lesser rivals than Alain Menu, Yvan Muller and Gabriele Tarquini – from 17 seasons in the fiercely-disputed series and its successor, the FIA World Touring Car Cup, he achieved a total of 34 race wins and four top three championship finishes against some of the finest tin-top talent around.
Over the course of his illustrious career, the 44-year-old has additionally worked alongside the likes of Jason Plato and Nicola Larini, and he added another title to his impressive résumé with the TCR Scandinavian Touring Car Championship laurels in 2020. Still very much at the top of his game, Huff placed third overall in the inaugural TCR World Tour last year.
The Cambridgeshire star is no stranger to the BTCC either, although his only previous full season came two decades ago, back in 2004. On the podium in just his fourth race in the UK’s premier motor racing series, he concluded his maiden campaign with two victories to his credit, and while he subsequently went on to successfully ply his trade on the international stage, he always kept a close eye on the championship where it had all begun.
When he returned for a one-off outing at Silverstone in 2017, it was like he had never been away as he reached the rostrum once again, and he then re-appeared for another single-shot weekend at Knockhill last summer – scoring points in both of the races that he finished – before speculatively testing TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK’s Corolla at Croft later in the year.
Having since agreed terms with the Speedworks Motorsport-run outfit, Huff – who is represented by Fewkes Sport Management, of which he is also a director – will now rejoin the BTCC grid for his second proper assault on the biggest prize in British motorsport, partnering reigning Jack Sears Trophy winner Andrew Watson on the driving strength for the 30-round campaign.
Racing will get underway at Donington Park on 27/28 April – home soil for the British-built Corolla, whose road-going cousins are produced at Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK) in nearby Burnaston. All of the action season-long will be broadcast live and in high-definition on ITV channels.
Christian Dick, Team Principal, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK, said:
“It goes without saying that we are thrilled to bring a driver of Rob’s calibre and success on-board for the forthcoming campaign. His record in the sport speaks for itself – he has raced against, and regularly beaten, the very best in the world, and he is just as razor-sharp now as he was when he started out more than two decades ago.
“The BTCC is a unique beast that requires a very specific skillset, and we’ve obviously seen quick drivers return before after some time away and struggle to re-adapt, but when Rob rejoined the grid at Silverstone in 2017 and Knockhill last summer, he was immediately back in the groove – he gave us quite a run for our money at Silverstone, I seem to recall! I have no doubt at all that he will be firmly in the mix.
“When he tested the Corolla last year, he instantly felt at home and his wealth of experience of driving different cars will be hugely beneficial as we continue to strive to extract every last ounce of performance out of the Toyota – while offering an invaluable bank of knowledge for Andrew [Watson] to draw upon in his second season in the championship. We’re tremendously excited about the potential in the team this year and can’t wait to get going!”
Rob Huff, Driver, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK, said:
“It feels like I’ve come full circle, 20 years on! I’ve always been a huge supporter of the BTCC – I began my racing career in Britain and I’ve been looking to come back for a little while. Last year, I really ramped up those efforts to return; I was given the opportunity to compete at Knockhill, which whetted my appetite for more while allowing me to get my name back in the frame and talk to people face-to-face.
“The main priority for me was to ensure I ended up in a potential championship-winning car with people who share my passion and enthusiasm for the sport – and at TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK, that’s what I believe I’ve found. I spoke to pretty much every team in the championship, and I got the best feeling from Christian and Amy [Dick]. I like what they’re doing and how they’re doing it, and when I tested the Corolla at Croft, everything felt very natural and aligned fairly seamlessly.
“I’ve got to say, I’m probably more excited for this new challenge than I have been in a long time – it just feels perfectly right – and I’m delighted to be working with Andrew [Watson], too. He’s clearly a very quick guy who represents himself very well both on and off-track, and I think he did an absolutely amazing job as a BTCC rookie last year.
“We all share the same values, and we’re all pushing for the same goal, which is to drive the whole team forward and to arrive at Brands Hatch at the end of the season in with a shout of winning the title. The competition at the top in the BTCC is always fierce, which means consistency is key. Points win prizes – and ultimately, championships.”
ITV SPORT AND BTCC IN GROUND-BREAKING MOVE WITH SOCIAL MEDIA GIANT
TOCA – organisers of the BTCC – is delighted to announce today (27 March) that every race of the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will be streamed LIVE around the globe via TikTok, thanks to a world-first agreement with its partners at ITV Sport.
This ground-breaking agreement is in addition to the BTCC’s expansive and existing UK television contract with the ITV network, which sees around eight hours of broadcast - live and free - from each event across ITV4 and ITVX, as well as the continued highlights and catch-up offerings across the network.
As the BTCC continues to look to bring the championship to a new audience, an agreement has been finalised to ensure that EVERY race will also be streamed LIVE and IN FULL via the ITV Sport TikTok channel – both in the UK and globally.
It is the first ever sport to be streamed live via TikTok by ITV Sport, and it is also thought that it is the first major sporting organisation to stream its entire competition all season across the giant social media platform.
Following its launch in 2016, TikTok has since become one of the world's most popular online platforms, now reaching more than one billion active monthly users worldwide, with some 45% of those in the 18-34 age group, whilst women make up around 57% of all users - further highlighting ways in which the BTCC will be brought to a new, younger and more diverse demographic.
The announcement is also fantastic news for the BTCC’s loyal global fanbase, as this agreement will see every race in the UK’s premier motorsport championship broadcast live right around the world for the first time in its illustrious 66-year history.
This forward-thinking world-first decision is one of the most significant in the history of the BTCC and the result of a broadcasting strategy review that started in September last year. Details of the full broadcast schedule will be published over the coming weeks.
The 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship comprises 30 races across 10 race weekends at the UK’s finest circuits, with the season opener taking place at Donington Park on 27/28 April.
Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “This is a truly ground-breaking move for the BTCC. I’m incredibly proud that we will be the first major motorsport championship in the world to have its entire race season streamed live on TikTok. It’s the real ‘cherry on the top’ of our ongoing and vast UK coverage, which is live and free on ITV4 and ITVX.
“Most importantly, this agreement will introduce the BTCC to a massive new and completely different demographic – a younger and more diverse audience – which is exactly what we, and in fact all of motorsport, are looking to achieve. This is very big news for the BTCC, our teams and our partners as we cement the future of the UK’s most prestigious motorsport championship.”
Andrew Hill, Senior Producer at ITV Sport, said: “This is a hugely exciting and innovative development in ITV’s production of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship. Live streaming BTCC races on TikTok, alongside our regular ITV4 and ITVX coverage, will help us to reach a much wider audience and enable a new generation of fans to enjoy the thrills and spills of the number-one championship in British motor racing.”
A natural amphitheatre offering unrivalled views of the action from various vantage points, Brands Hatch is known as one of Britain’s best-loved motor racing circuits. Its unique combination of dips, cambers, fearsome corners and hills means it is still one of the world’s most renowned racing venues. The BTCC has been going to Brands Hatch since the series began back in 1958.
The 2024 campaign will see the BTCC call into Brands Hatch for both the second event of the season as well as the finale, and the action-packed Indy layout is set to host the initial visit to Kent, with Rounds 4, 5 & 6 of the campaign, on 11/12 May.
The historic race track has seen some spectacular BTCC entertainment over the many years the championship has been visiting, and has been the scene of many a nail-biting finale.
Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing has today (27 March) revealed the striking new livery that will adorn the Vauxhall Astra challengers of Árón Taylor-Smith and Mikey Doble for the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season.
The unveiling sees Evans Halshaw feature prominently across the two front-wheel-drive machines, as well as the race suits of Taylor-Smith and Doble, after being announced as the new title sponsors of the Worcestershire-based squad last week.
Showcasing a number of other key commercial partnerships as well, both cars - decked out in their now recognisable blue, yellow and white colour scheme - look set to be two of the most eye-catching cars on the grid.
This season will see the team compete in the UK’s premier motorsport series looking to go one better in both the Independent Teams’ and Drivers’ Championship, having claimed runners-up laurels in each category last year.
Multiple race-winner Taylor-Smith has his sights set on adding to his silverware collection whilst Doble - who was one of the standout rookies in 2023 - is eager to capture the coveted Jack Sears Trophy.
Adam Weaver, Power Maxed Racing Team Principal, said: “We’re extremely proud to continue working with all of our fantastic partners, as well welcoming some new ones, ahead of what promises to be another ultra-competitive year in the BTCC.
“Everyone has been working extremely hard behind the scenes so it is great to finally be able to showcase our new look. The real work begins next month but with the developments on the cars we’ve undertaken - and the testing schedule we’ve got in place - we’re feeling confident.”
“Flying the Evans Halshaw branding this year has injected even more life into the entire Power Maxed Racing crew and the car really does looks incredible,” added Irishman Taylor-Smith.
“To be able to build on all of our fantastic partnerships very exciting too. Everything has really come alive - from the car, to the suits and all of the team wear - which is fantastic to see. It’s a bit cliché but if the car goes as well as it looks we should be on for a great season.”
“I think the new livery is going to kick a new lease of life into the Astra this year,” concluded Doble. “It’s got a very modern appeal to it and I reckon it’’s going to look even smarter when its out on-track.
“As always, it’s great to welcome new sponsors onboard and I hope they, as well as the amazing BTCC fans, enjoy our eye-catching new livery, race wear and merchandise this season.”
The 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season officially launches at Donington Park on Tuesday 16th April before returning to the Leicestershire venue a little over one week later for the opening rounds on the 27-28 April.