LADA on top of WTCC preparations

LADA will be better prepared than ever when the 2016 FIA World Touring Car Championship fires up next spring.

The Russian squad has started the last two seasons with all-new cars to meet changes to the technical regulations or its road model range.

However, for 2016, LADA has the luxury of unleashing a number of changes to its existing Vesta TC1 rather than a completely new car.

A statement from LADA Sport Rosneft read: “This is a welcome development for 2016 as in previous years [we’ve] had to build a new car each time before the start of the season due to the changes in the WTCC technical regulations or, as in 2015, to introduce all-new models from the LADA range.

“This time LADA Sport engineers will use the winter break for the full-scale testing programme and the development of the existing race car. This will translate into a more effective preparation ahead of the 2016 season, which brings a new wave of competition with Volvo joining LADA, Citroën, Honda and Chevrolet brands in the championship.”

LADA’s fleet of Vesta TC1s will have tweaked suspension, chassis and steering, while changes to the engine management system are also aimed at upping performance for 2016.

And to ensure it’s ready for the new campaign, LADA will test at Magny-Cours in France, where technical partner ORECA is located, plus other circuits in Europe.