Rob Huff will join Leopard Racing for the majority of the remainder of the current TCR International Series season, joining Jean-Karl Vernay in a Volkswagen Golf GTi.
Huff has already raced with the Belgian WRT-run team, competing at Spa-Francorchamps in the opening round of the TCR Benelux championship.
Now 2012 WTCC champion Huff will return to race with the team in seven of the eight remaining rounds, with only the event at Monza being an issue for the Brit due to clashing commitments in the World Touring Car Championship on that weekend.
“It’s fantastic to join Leopard Racing Team WRT in this year’s TCR International Series,” said Huff, who previously raced in TCR at the 2015 season finale in Macau. “The deal came after the Benelux race event, which was a success despite having to discover a new team, a new car and category.
“I had a great time getting to know the team at Spa, and I think we’re going to have a great rest of the season together.
“TCR is also a brilliant championship to be involved in. There’s a lot of future touring car talent rising up through there, and also great door-to-door racing. As the levels of the cars are balanced, it’s a lot less about the car but the driver.
“For someone who started racing in mono-brand trophies, like me, it’s extremely appealing. It’s also very nice to be again in a series launched and run by Marcello Lotti and his team, who know the business inside-out and are like a family.”
TCR promoter Marcello Lotti was delighted to be able to welcome a driver of Huff’s calibre to the championship for the majority of the 2017 season.
“When a driver like Rob joins your own series, it makes you want to jump for joy,” said Lotti. “A former World Champion who commits for the season adds further credit to the TCR International Series.
“I’m personally pleased because I hold him in great esteem both as a driver and as a person. He will prove a great asset for Leopard Racing and the whole series.”