LADA SPORT ROSNEFT has confirmed that 2012 FIA World Touring Car Champion Rob Huff will be joined by Jaap van Lagen and Nick Catsburg for the ROSNEFT Race of Russia (5-7 June).
Catsburg, aged 27, has a successful endurance and GT Racing CV that includes wins in the Blancpain Endurance Series and VLN, although he has also competed in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) and Dutch GT Championship, in which he finished third in 2012.
“The LADA Vesta WTCC car is something completely new to me, said Catsburg. “The first laps during the test at Magny-Cours were a big surprise, as the car really requires a specific driving style with all that power going to the front axle. Once I got some more laps in, I started to get used to it and really started to enjoy driving this car. Braking and the car’s performance at high speed were very impressive.”
”I am really looking forward to this completely new challenge. The races will of course be difficult, but, with the help of the team and my experienced teammates, I am sure we can do well. The Moscow WTCC round is obviously an important one to LADA and its main sponsor, ROSNEFT, and it is a real pleasure to share this event with them. I have looked at several on-boards from the Moscow Raceway and it looks very technical. I can’t wait to get started!”
LADA SPORT ROSNEFT is committed to achieving the highest goals in the WTCC and is striving to raise the its performance in all areas to create a winning platform for the LADA Vesta TC1 car. This encompasses the team’s driver line up, which will be developed to find a balance that helps LADA SPORT achieve its targets.
FOR LADA SPORT ROSNEFT, 2015 is an important milestone. The new race-spec LADA Vesta hit the track several months before the official launch of the all new Vesta road car (25 September 2015).
As part of the WTCC, the Russian manufacturer aims to get maximum exposure for its new model. Accordingly, getting the Vesta to the head of the championship is important in terms of increasing the Russian manufacturer’s revitalised model range and build on its customers’ brand loyalty.
ROSNEFT, LADA SPORT’s title sponsor, is also focused on improving the team’s competitiveness and ensure it is in the fight for the Manufacturers’ title.