The 32-year-old headed into the event, which double as an International Luge Federation (FIL) World Cup, with the aim of adding the European crown to her four world titles, consisting of three World Cups and the Olympic gold medal at Vancouver 2010. 

Her prospects for victory improved after world champion Natalie Geisenberger was only able to complete one training round due to a crash, with a lack of practice and a neck pain hindering the chances of her fellow German. 

Latvia’s Eliza Cauce, though, was in pole position after the opening run, finishing in 53.283sec.

Russia’s Tatiana Ivanova clocked 53.339 to occupy second place.

Hüfner, who had recorded a time of 53.359 in her first run, produced the fastest effort of the competition to claim gold with 53.020.

Her combined time of 1min 46.379sec meant she finished 0.211 seconds clear of Cauce, the silvere medallist.

The two-time European champion Ivanova earned the bronze medal in 1:46.692.

Geisenberger ended outside the medal positions in 1:46.785.

The fourth place finish still enabled Geisenberger to celebrate winning the overall World Cup title, having established a 109 point lead over Ivanova  ahead of the final World Cup of the season in Winterberg next weekend.

“My title collection is now complete,” said Hüfner.

“The others benefited from their good start number on the first run, and I was always within striking distance of the lead.”

Hüfner celebrated further success in the team relay World Cup event, joining Felix Loch, Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken to win in 2min 24.204sec.

Canada claimed the World Cup silver medal after their quartet of Kimberley McRae, Mitchel Malyk, Tristan Walker and Justin Snith finished in 2:24.550.

In the European Championship, Cauce picked up her second silver medal as the Latvian team posted a time of 2:24.982, ending 0.140 clear of Russia.

The result ensures Germany will win the World Cup title after moving onto 431 points ahead of the final competition, with Latvia on 325.