The ROSNEFT-backed LADA SPORT team showed a great turn of speed in the FIA World Touring Car Championship Race of Morocco on the streets of Marrakesh, posting the fastest laps in both the Opening and Main Races (Sunday 8 May).
In the Opening Race, held in dry conditions, Hugo Valente posted three purple sector times on his way to the fastest lap of the weekend and a TAG Heuer timepiece – a prize for his efforts – while teammate Gabriele Tarquini was the one to light up the timing screens in a wet Main Race, with a best time from Nicky Catsburg that was only slightly slower.
However, despite the LADA Vestas’ great speed, the drivers were only able to deliver a handful of points.
The Opening Race saw Valente lead after a disputed move on polesitter, James Thompson, which resulted in a drive-through penalty for the Frenchman, while Catsburg also attracted the attention of the race stewards when he misjudged a move on Thed Bkork’s Volvo that forced the Dutchman to retire with a minor mechanical issue and light damage.
The best result came at the hands of Tarquini, who drove strongly and rose from 11th on the grid to finish inside the points in seventh.
The rains came at the start of the Main Race. All cars started on treaded wet weather tyres and both Tarquini and Valente made strong starts and were well established in the top ten when, on lap six, Tarquini got the better of his young French teammate at Turn 1 and began pulling away, setting the fastest lap on his way to sixth position and more points.
Catsburg was forced to start from the pit lane for his part in the Opening Race collision with Bjork, negating his great qualifying performance. He was on a real charge through the pack, making a series of great moves to just miss out on points in a creditable P11.
LADA SPORT ROSNEFT Team Principal, Victor Shapovalov, had mixec feelings about the results, knowing it would have an adverse effect on the team’s compensation weight for the next round in Germany.
“We scored some points, which is good, but we will incur some weight gains for sure, as we had the fastest laps in both races and a strong qualifying performance. Our young drivers were very fast, but made some mistakes, but were very fast, but made some mistakes that impacted our results.”
Tarquini – LADA SPORT’s best-placed driver in both races in Morocco – said: “The fastest lap in the Main Race was nice, but I would have liked to have had more points. The car was very fast, for sure, so it was disappointing not to have achieved better finishes, but this was a result of not qualifying well.”
Valente rued a missed opportunity for an Opening Race victory, saying: “I had the lead and the pace to win the Opening Race. I was in control and I was sorry for the contact with James Thompson, as it ultimately ruined both our races. He brakes very early for the corner, I wasn’t expecting that and we touched. After that and the drive-through penalty, I was able to show the speed I had and get a fastest lap, but it’s not a race win.”
Catsburg said: “After the disappointment of the Opening Race and having to start the Main Race from the pits, I can say that I really enjoyed myself. I had a lot of fun, the LADA Vesta was really nice and I was able to pass a lot of cars. I was a little unfortunate not to make it into the points, as I was only two seconds behind Tom Chilton in P10.”
LADA SPORT ROSNEFT and its WTCC counterparts now turn their attention to the challenge of the Nurburgring Nordschleife in Germany (27-28 May).