Rob Huff's aim of becoming FIA World Touring Car Champion has been strengthened after he finished 3rd and 4th in the two races at Imola on Sunday – despite his Chevrolet Lacetti race car carrying the maximum 70kgs of success ballast.

Just four races ago Rob was lying 7th in the WTCC, but having finished 2nd and 3rd at Oschersleben in Germany, another good points scoring finish in both races in Italy sees the 28-year old driver from Cambridgeshire move up to 4th on 61 points (ahead of defending World Champion Andy Priaulx), just one point behind 3rd placed Rickard Rydell. Had a puncture not denied Rob almost certain victory at Brands Hatch, and had a team's technical infringement not erased his 3rd place finish at Brno in the Czech Republic, Rob would now have at least 77 points – meaning he could well have been lying 2nd in the series at the moment, just three points behind leader Yvan Muller.

Imola had not hosted a round of the WTCC since 2005, and since then the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari had been changed. Located near the Italian town of Imola, 25 miles east of Bologna and 50 miles east of the Ferrari factory in Maranello, the famous San Marino Grand Prix circuit has been closed for two years, in which time it has undergone serious revisions to the pit lane, pit garages and the final corners. The final left-right Traguardo chicane has been removed, making the run from Rivazza 2 to the first Tamburello chicane totally flat-out, much like the circuit in its original fast-flowing days.

The WTCC teams were given extra track time to get used to the new layout, which gave Rob a chance to drive his Chevrolet Lacetti with the maximum permitted 70kgs of success ballast for the first time. With such a heavy car, Rob was aiming to try and qualify inside the top 10, but great team-work saw him qualify 4th; thanks to team-mate Nicola Larini – the least well placed Chevrolet driver in the standings – towing Rob and the other Chevrolet driver, Alain Menu, around the Imola track three times.

"I'm very pleased with qualifying fourth," said Rob. "I have to give massive credit to Alain and Nic for helping me out. It's all a team effort, but at the end of the day everybody wants to beat his team-mates, so a big thank you to them is very much in place. Our convoy worked well two times out of three, only the last time it didn't work out as planned. Also a big thank you to my race engineer and the boys. This team is the best in the paddock, and this is the prize for their hard work."

Race day consisted of two 11 lap races around the three mile track, with the first beginning as normal with a rolling start and the second with a standing start. Rob was Chevrolet's top placed finisher in each, finishing 4th in Race 1 and 3rd in Race 2 to score 11 points and continue his move up the WTCC standings.

"I had a good start in Race 1, running in third through the chicane," said Rob. "I tried to pass Rydell for second but didn't make it so I decided to save third place for the points. I couldn't keep up with the SEATs as they were so much faster on the straights. In the twistier part of the track I could close up, but coming on to the straights they just pulled away on acceleration. Then on the penultimate lap James Thompson pushed me wide to overtake me so I ended up fourth.

"In the second race I had a good start, but then the safety car intervened because of the start line accident. After that I again had to give way to Thompson, who was clearly on a mission in a very light car this weekend, so I dropped to fourth. Nicola then had some brake issues and I could pass him for third near the end of the race.

"Our goal in any case was to try and overtake Andy Priaulx for fourth in the Championship, which we managed. It has been a very good weekend for us, especially since it was the first time we ran the Chevrolet Lacetti with 70kgs of ballast. I was pleasantly surprised of how well the car handled with all that extra weight, so I'm really looking forward to Monza in two weeks."

Rounds 19 and 20 of the WTCC take place at Monza in Italy on October 4/5.

Imola Race 1 Results

1.	Y. Muller	(SEAT Leon TDI)	11 laps in 21m24s523
2.	R. Rydell	(SEAT Leon TDI)	+0s411
3.	J. Thompson	(Honda Accord Euro-R)	+0s773
4.	R. Huff	(Chevrolet Lacetti)	+1s376
5.	G. Tarquini	(SEAT Leon TDI)	+2s086
6.	N. Larini	(Chevrolet Lacetti)	+3s047

Imola Race 2 Results

1.	J. Thompson	(Honda Accord Euro-R)	13 laps in 30m20s607
2.	J. Müller	(BMW 320si)	+1s120
3.	R. Huff	(Chevrolet Lacetti)	+1s858
4.	N. Larini	(Chevrolet Lacetti)	+3s353
5.	Y. Muller	(SEAT Leon TDI)	+4s034
6.	R. Rydell	(SEAT Leon TDI)	+4s378

Drivers' Points Standings After Race 18 Of 24
1. Y Muller (SEAT), 80 points; 2. G Tarquini (SEAT), 68; 3. R Rydell (SEAT), 62; 4. R Huff (Chevrolet), 61; 5. A Priaulx (BMW), 55.

Manufacturers' Points Standings After Race 18 Of 24
1. SEAT, 241 points; 2. BMW, 207; 3. Chevrolet, 177; 4. Honda, 42.