LADA SPORT ROSNEFT is pleased to announce a refreshed driver line-up for the 2016 FIA World Touring Car Championship, featuring the exciting and emerging Dutchman Nick Catsburg, the highly experienced Italian Gabriele Tarquini and former privateer, Hugo Valente.
Catsburg first joined LADA SPORT midway through the 2015 season, just prior to the Russian manufacturer squad’s home round in Moscow after forging a highly successful career in GT and endurance racing.
The Dutch racer showed great potential, taking his new-for-2015 LADA Vesta to two fourth-places and several top ten results and shining in qualifying trim by breaking through into the top-five shootout on three occasions.
Tarquini has the 2009 FIA World, 2003 European and 1994 British Touring Car Championship titles to his name and, while he has a background in Formula 1, the Italian ace stands as one of the most experienced touring car drivers in the world, having amassed 20 race wins and numerous podium finishes since the WTCC’s inception.
Valente, meanwhile, has already proven to be one of the most promising WTCC drivers, as, despite his young age, the Frenchman has visited the winners’ rostrum several times during his three seasons at the pinnacle of international touring car racing.
First impressions of the LADA Vesta from Gabriele and Hugo have been positive and they have fitted in quickly with the team.
Of course, LADA SPORT ROSNEFT would like to thank Rob Huff for his two-year cooperation that brought brilliant wins, podium finishes for the LADA brand, and the team wishes him success in his future endeavors.
LADA SPORT is currently conducting a thorough winter testing programme at its technical base in Magny-Cours and other European racetracks, and its engineers will bring significant updates to the LADA Vesta TC1 for the first round of the 2016 WTCC season in Russia, including a host of new suspension, chassis and steering components and a new evolution of the car’s 380bhp turbocharged engine.