Huff endures Brazil frustration

Huff finished third in the drivers' standings in 2008

Rob Huff came away empty handed from round one of the World Touring Car Championship in Brazil for the second year in succession.

The Chevrolet star's weekend was compromised by a throttle failure

The 29-year-old from Cambridge told his personal website: "It's been a bit of a frustrating start to the season.

"We could have got into the shoot-out in qualifying had I not been held up and then in race one we were heading for a points finish when we stopped."

Qualifying in the new Chevrolet Cruze for the first time, Huff could only manage 13th on the grid in race one and completed just five laps before suffering technical problems.

"I managed to avoid trouble in the initial laps and was aiming at some points, when the throttle cable broke and that was my race over," he said.

606: DEBATE

Have your say on the WTCC

"In race two, starting from the back and with a wet track, we worked hard to move forward and made the best progress possible."

Huff finished a creditable 13th in race two and overall was pleased with the race pace of his new car.

"On its WTCC race debut, the Chevrolet Cruze has shown a lot of potential and the whole team is really encouraged by its early speed and performance," he said.

Huff's team-mates Alain Menu and Nicola Larini also failed to pick up any points, although Larini did claim fourth in race one before suffering a penalty.

Seat dominated proceedings just as they did throughout 2008 with top four lock-outs in both races.