The FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) returns to Portugal for the first time since 2013 (11-12 July) and LADA SPORT ROSNEFT will be hoping to put its trying weekend at Circuit Paul Ricard behind it and vie for strong points finishes with its three drivers, Rob Huff, Jaap van Lagen and Nicky Catsburg.
LADA SPORT endured a difficult weekend last time out in France. Circuit Paul Ricard’s characteristics and the region’s high ambient temperatures proved incompatible with the LADA Vesta and left van Lagen and Catsburg languishing outside of the top ten, while Huff was sidelined by damage sustained in a hefty collision on the first racing lap of the weekend.
However, the Russian team stayed on in the French Riviera to run through a vigorous testing programme that included race-distance runs and tyre evaluations. Some valuable information was gathered during the Paul Ricard test and LADA SPORT is keen to deploy the lessons learned on the WTCC’s return to Portugal this weekend (11-12 July).
A new and unchartered street circuit beckons and there’s an opportunity for LADA SPORT to capitalise on this unfamiliarity by knuckling down and getting a handle on the 2.15mile, 24-turn inner-city track more quickly than its Citroen, Honda and Chevrolet rivals.
Moreover, LADA SPORT has the master of street circuits in its ranks, as Huff is widely recognised for his prowess on the world’s most unforgiving street courses and is noted for achieving a record breaking seven wins on the intimidating Macau Guia circuit.
“After losing Macau from the calendar this year, I am excited for it to have been replaced by another high-speed street circuit,” said ‘King of Macau, Huff. “I haven’t been there before and I’m pretty sure nobody else on the WTCC grid has, and, having looked at videos of it, it appears to a very quick circuit and one that will suit me and the LADA Vesta TC1 very well. Vila Real is lined with concrete walls and there is zero room for error. Every millimetre of the circuit you use can shave a few tenths off your time, yet pushing the limits too far can send you into the Armco barriers and potentially spell the end of your race.
“We only get three half-hour practice sessions before heading straight into qualifying and one good thing about having over ten years of experience in the WTCC is that I feel I am able to adapt well to new circuits. You have to use the time carefully to make sure you set the car up as quickly as possible, while getting dialled in to the circuit at the same time. Vila Real is ultimately very fast, so it will take the first two sessions to really build confidence ahead of qualifying. The aim for this weekend is to do the best we can and, if we can get back to the top five form we showed in Slovakia and Russia, that would be great and I feel that a podium is within reach.”
Van Lagen, meanwhile, has a wealth of experience on street circuits and most recently converted pole position into a race victory in the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix-supporting Porsche Supercup.
The Dutchman said: “I have been to Portuguese racetracks many times, but Vila Real isn’t one I’m familiar with. I really like street circuits and I have gained a lot of experience over the years, and achieving pole position and a race win in the Porsche Supercup in support of this year’s Monaco Grand Prix was an amazing feat.
“From what I have seen, Vila Real looks like a nice and really very fast track. It’s difficult to say whether it will be good for the LADA Vesta, but I’m encouraged after the test at Paul Ricard, as it was really useful and we have made the car a lot better and more consistent over a race distance.”
Catsburg said: “I have been to several Portuguese racetracks, including Portimao, Estoril and Braga. Portimao and Estoril are often used for testing purposes over the winter and I visited Braga during my Formula Renault days, although the Vila Real street circuit is new and unfamiliar to me. I like street races yes, but prefer purpose-built racetracks, but, from what I have seen, this is extremely fast for a street circuit and I think this will definitely suit the LADA Vesta. The Paul Ricard test was very useful, as we have learnt several new things and I am looking forward to trying the setups and developments in Vila Real.”
