LADA SPORT ROSNEFT took huge strides forward from the start of testing through to qualifying for the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) Race of Hungary at the scenic Hungaroring (23 April).
Testing on Friday (22 April) presented a number of challenges; LADA SPORT’s setup was far from optimised and the team subsequently found itself outside of the TOP-5 places. However, the Russian team attacked the problem with a broad sweep of overnight setup changes, primarily based on feedback and insight from Italian touring car veteran Gabriele Tarquini.
The impact of the adjustments was profound and a feeling of surprise and delight was shared by all three LADA SPORT drivers – Tarquini, Nick Catsburg and Hugo Valente – following FP1 on Saturday morning, as the 30-minute session revealed that the Vesta TC1 had been transformed back into a real contender.
Drivers enjoyed the extra speed afforded by the Hungaroring’s freshly laid asphalt. Several times were deleted as competitors repeatedly tested track limits, but Tarquini successfully propelled himself to the top of the timing screens with a best time of 1m47.929s, and an even quicker lap of 1m47.559s was good enough for P2 at the end of the second free practice session.
There was still a lot for Tarquini, Catsburg and Valente to learn about the car at the Hungaroring, but confidence continued to grow as it became clear that the ever-improving Vesta had more to give.
An intoxicating party atmosphere descended upon the picturesque Hungarian circuit, loud chants reverberating from the packed grandstands during the build-up to the all-important qualifying session, and there was hope that the celebrations would carry over into the LADA SPORT pit garages at the end of the day.
In Q1, Tarquini shot up to P2 with a last-ditch 1m46.633s and Catsburg strung together purple and personal best sectors to go seventh fastest, with Frenchman Hugo Valente narrowly missing out on a place in the second part of qualifying in 13th.
Two LADA Vestas graduated to Q2, but, unfortunately, cooling ambient temperatures had a negative effect on the cars’ performance and they would go no further in the session, Catsburg leading the charge in seventh and Tarquini unable to replicate his earlier pace in 12th.
Rounds 5 and 6 of the 2016 FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) at the Hungaroring will be held at 14.15 and 17.15 CET respectively, and both races will be broadcast live on Eurosport