• Rivals falter as Rob takes a win and a second place

Top British racing driver Robert Huff strengthened his lead in the Holiday Inn SEAT Cupra Championship with a win and second place in the fifth and sixth rounds at Oulton Park yesterday. The 23 year-old from Cambridge struggled with understeer in the weekend's first qualifying session, posting the fifth quickest time, but after changes between the sessions, bounced back in the second to take the pole spot for the day's second race.

Despite his young age, Robert capitalised on his experience and his knowledge of the Cheshire track to take a dramatic victory in the day's opening race, his second of the season, after dropping down to eighth at the start.

"Off the line I dropped down to 8th, I just couldn't get away," said Robert. "But I was up to 7th by the first corner and then got by Spencer Marsh into Lodge to move up to 6th. The next lap I lunged up the inside of Colbert and was just 2 seconds off the lead pack. Gavin Smith went off a lap later and I was in third behind Pickford and Hodgetts."

"I know Oulton Park well and know that brakes can play a major role so I used them wisely, pumping them up on the straights so that they would work properly when needed. We brake heavily on this circuit, there's about 8 times where we're reducing our speed by half from 140! That's tough on them and they can so easily not work to their full advantage when you're going into a fast corner so it's vital to work with them."

As the cars entered the 9th lap, a collision between race leader James Pickford and Stefan Hodgetts dropped Pickford to tenth, while Hodgetts, who's brakes went on the next corner ploughed into the barrier, destroying his car and forcing him out of the day's second race. Robert survived to come through to the front, and he held on to take the win from Stephen Colbert and Julian Westwood.

"Stefan's accident was mega," said Robert at the finish. "It was the biggest I've ever seen, and I was really concerned for his safety. I could see the whole underside of his car, I thought it was gong over."

With earlier delays in the day, the second race, originally scheduled for 11 laps at 4.35, was shortened to 8 laps and as the time approached the 6.30 curfew the cars set off for the start. At the lights Robert made a great start, but Gordon Shedden alongside on the front row made a better one to take an immediate lead as Robert slotted in to second, with one eye on his championship lead. As they entered Old Hall, Robert had a look at getting by, but wisely held back, preferring not to risk valuable points.

As the clock ticked away, the chequered flag was shown after just four laps, giving the win to Shedden as Robert, less than a second behind, took the runner-up spot ahead of Gavin Smith.

"I made a good start, but Gordon's was mega. I had a look up the inside at Old Hall and could have gone for it, but it would have been risky and to be honest not really worth it. His win only took 3 points away from me, and I was happy to settle for second"

Race stewards will meet next week to decide which points, if any, will be awarded in the shortened second race.

Round 5 results (11 laps):

1.	ROBERT HUFF	20min 45.980secs
2.	Stephen Colbert	20min 46.851secs
3.	Julian Westwood	20min 50.796secs
4.	Spencer Marsh	20min 51.702secs
5.	Emmet O'Brien	20min 52.298secs
6.	Gordon Shedden	20min 59.966secs

Fastest lap: ROBERT HUFF 87.00mph

Round 6 race results (4 laps)

1.	Gordon Shedden	7min 34.011secs
2.	ROBERT HUFF	7min 35.042secs
3.	Gavin Smith	7min 35.669secs
4.	Stephen Colbert	7min 38.101secs
5.	Emmet O'Brien	7min 38.950secs
6.	Julian Westwood	7min 40.316secs

Fastest lap: Gordon Shedden 86.78mph

Holiday Inn SEAT Cupra Championship points after 5 rounds

1.	ROBERT HUFF	75
2.	Stefan Hodgetts	58
3.	Gordon Shedden	50
4.	Gavin Smith	42
5.	James Pickford	41
6.	Julian Westwood	31

The series next rounds are at Rockingham, Northampton on August 2nd/3rd.