Rob Huff Press Release
Rob Huff will contest the 2013 United States Air Force (USAF) National Auto Sport Association (NASA) 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance race in Willows, California with a Rotek Racing Audi TTRS Special (7-8 December).
Located just north of Sacramento, the 4.83km-long Thunderhill Park Raceway comprises of 15 corners and minor elevation changes and annually plays host to the USA’s longest race in the first week of December.
The 25 Hour super-enduro is regarded as one of the sternest tests in North American motorsport and an extreme proving ground for both teams and drivers, particularly given that it’s usually held in cool temperatures and has so far attracted a varied entry of over 80 cars spread over six classes.
Huff – the 2012 FIA World Touring Car Champion – began his career in endurance Go Karting. He started out in the Le Mans 24 Hours kart race, but has more recently piloted a Volvo silhouette in the Spa 12 Hours, contested the Britcar 24 Hours at Silverstone and took on the Bathurst 12 Hours in Australia with an Audi R8 LMS.
The 33-year old Briton - an official ambassador for OCC LASIK and Newmarket Racecourses - continues to be a full-time campaigner at the pinnacle of international touring car racing in the WTCC, but enjoys returning to his roots in endurance racing.
A somewhat truncated outing in the German VLN Endurance Championship on the infamous Nurburgring Nordschleife in October provided Huff with a chance to familiarise himself with Rotek Racing’s Oakley-liveried Audi TTRS he will drive in the ES Class at Thunderhill.
Having done the ground work, Huff is now ‘California dreamin’’ of big things, but is reluctant to underestimate the challenge posed by the 25 Hours of Thunderhill.
“The 25 Hours of Thunderhill is a tough challenge for a multitude of reasons, but we will have to endure,” said Huff. “The size of the field and the variety of entrants will no doubt create a lot of traffic and, while having a reliable car is always one of the chief objectives, an ability to maintain high levels of concentration over a prolonged period is essential.
“I was impressed with Rotek Racing and its Audi TTRS during my first outing at the Nurburgring in October and that experience should allow me to get off to a flying start in California. I felt really comfortable in the car after a short time behind the wheel and it’s quick too, so it should be pretty potent at Thunderhill. Whatever happens, it’s going to be a pleasure competing in this event with Rotek. My career started with endurance racing and I thrive on these opportunities.”
Rotek Racing driver, Robb Holland, who piloted the Audi TTRS with 034 Motorsport during last year's 25 Hours of Thunderhill, added: "I have a lot of experience of the 25 Hours of Thunderhill so I'm well versed in the sort of challenges it poses. Having a driver of Rob Huff's calibre as part of Rotek's driver line-up is a real statement of intent. I know he can handle it and believe we can do great things in the race, especially as have a combination of speed and reliability with the Audi TTRS."
For more information on the NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill, please visit the official www.nasa25hour.com website.
And for more on Rob Huff's racing activities, please visit the official www.robhuff.com website, 'like' his Facebook page or follow @Huffsport on Twitter.
Photo credit: Rotek Racing
