LADA SPORT ROSNEFT history in the FIA World Touring Car Championship stretches back to 2008-2009 when the Russian Manufacturer first entered the Worlds premier Touring Car championship with the LADA110 model.
The evolution through the series has been astonishing, culminating, fittingly, in a deserved victory for the team, its Lada Vesta TC1 model and Gabriele Tarquini at the final round of the 2016 season at the Losail International Circuit, Qatar yesterday (25th November) to crown what has easily been the teams most successful year to date.
In a fitting way to bring the project to a conclusion the Italian former World Champion and veteran of over 200 WTCC starts converted his front row start into a commanding victory which saw the yellow Vesta stretching away for what was a comfortable and emotional victory.
“My Vesta was very good especially on the first few laps, said Tarquini. – Unfortunately, I was on the dirty part on the inside and was not able to do a very good start. However, on the first few corners I felt my car was working very good and probably better than Tom’s [Chilton]. On the restart, I got the chance. I was completely on the outside, he went a little too long and I used my chance, and this was key for the victory because on this track, especially with the sand around the kerbs, it’s very difficult to follow another car. After it was quite an easy race. My pace was very good and on a certain point, I got an eight-second advantage”.
‘I want to give this fantastic victory to all the guys in LADA SPORT ROSNEFT team who work day and night, and to all Russian fans! We had a great car and great potential. The team has grown a lot!”
The win was the third in the 2016 for the LADA SPORT ROSNEFT team and the second for Tarquini in a memorable season, which will be the last for the Russian Manufacturer in the World Championship, choosing instead to build on the experience, gained in on the International stage to focus and develop national championships in the domestic Russian market.
LADA and ROSNEFT would like to extend warm thanks to the drivers, Gabriele Tarquini, Nicky Catsburg and Hugo Valente and to the team for what has been an outstanding season in the FIA WTCC.