The 43-year-old took the wheel of certainly one of Speedworks Motorsports’ Corolla GR Sports activities at a moist Croft for a run-out, earlier than the flyaway trio of TCR World Tour occasions at Sydney Motorsport Park, Mount Panorama and Macau.
Huff, who is only one level adrift of the TCR World Tour lead after his win in Sydney final weekend, stuffed in on the Crew Onerous Cupra BTCC squad in a one-off at Knockhill in August.
He made no bones that he’s focusing on a full-time BTCC return in 2024, for the primary time since his rookie tin-top season with the works SEAT squad in 2004, and was in proof within the paddock on the remaining two rounds at Silverstone and Manufacturers Hatch.
“He’s been in touch all 12 months with the staff, and I sat down with him at Manufacturers to speak about choices for 2024,” Speedworks head of racing Danny Buxton advised Autosport.
“He’s eager to be again within the sequence, and we wanted one thing testing on our growth plan, so it was a great alternative for him to pattern the automobile and for us to get some suggestions.
“It was moist, but it surely was good to have one other eye on the automobile.”
However Buxton added that the staff’s precedence is its 2023 trio of drivers: Rory Butcher, Ricky Collard and George Gamble.
Photograph by: JEP / Motorsport Images
Ricky Collard, Toyota GAZOO Racing UK Toyota Corolla GR Sport
“While our focus is at all times to evaluate the state of affairs with our personal three drivers first, it’s the character of the beast to see what else is probably on the horizon,” he stated.
“Rob’s proficient, he’s received an amazing CV, and he’d be an amazing match for any BTCC staff.”
Taylor-Smith stays at PMR
Irish veteran Aron Taylor-Smith is to stay at Energy Maxed Racing for a second season as he seeks to construct on his tally of 4 BTCC race wins.
Taylor-Smith was rejuvenated in PMR’s Vauxhall Astra in 2023, ending eleventh within the factors and coming inside one lap of victory at Silverstone.
That second place got here one spherical on from one other runner-up spot at Donington Park – his first within the sequence for seven years.
“It sounds terribly cliche, however I actually do really feel like I’ve discovered a house throughout the staff,” stated Taylor-Smith.
“I’ve been within the paddock for 10 years now, and I’ve spent a lot of that feeling like I used to be searching for a long-term residence. I’ve discovered that now.
Photograph by: JEP / Motorsport Images
Árón Taylor-Smith, CarStore Energy Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra
“Each profitable driver-team mixture on the BTCC grid has a excessive stage of consistency to it; whether or not that’s drivers with engineers, staying in the identical automobile, constructing a staff round you.
“In a single day success doesn’t occur right here, so if you wish to be aggressive, it’s good to discover someplace to create that atmosphere round you.
“We’ve had such a tremendous 12 months and achieved virtually each main goal we set ourselves. However – and that is the important thing bit – we did that with minimal testing, and in the event you have a look at our outcomes, it’s fairly clear it took me a couple of rounds to naturally ‘mattress in’ and familiarize yourself with the automobile, and the place we wanted to develop the bundle.
“So, I’m extremely optimistic about what we will obtain with an additional 4 months versus final season to organize.
“Individuals discuss this being one of many oldest automobiles on the grid, however I’ve been round a bit and I can say confidently – it nonetheless has room to develop.”
Crew boss Adam Weaver added: “I can’t wait to see what Aron and the staff can obtain with a correct winter to check and work by the automobile’s weaknesses. This season was improbable, but it surely solely scratched the floor of what’s doable.”