Lada forced to change test plans after Vila Real crashes

Lada Sport Rosneft celebrated having all three cars in the points of the first WTCC race at Vila Real in Portugal. The second race however saw two of their cars with heavy damage, meaning a change in plans for testing ahead of the coming race in Japan.

The Russian manufacturer claimed positions eight, nine and ten in the first race with drivers Jaap Van Lagen, Nick Catsburg and Rob Huff finishing in that order.

”In the first race I got a slow start but was able to run smoothly for the race length and get a nice 8th place. I was able to pull a reasonable gap to my teammates behind and kept the car fresh for a Race 2 podium attempt. Unfortunately the accident with Tiago stopped that opportunity but it’s a narrow street track and these things happen. I shook hands with Tiago afterwards it’s a shame for us both to have gone out,” said Van Lagen.

Van Lagen was not the only Lada victim in the second race as team mate Catsburg, while running in the top five, crashed into the barriers, causing the raced to be stopped. The damage to the Catsburg’s and Van Lagen’s cars means that the team is forced to change their testig plans ahead of the next race, with the risk of Catsburg missing the Japanese race.

”We have to see what needs to be done quickly as the cars are due to leave for Japan in a week and we had planned a series of tests and developments that may now need revising although I was pleased that we had good pace on the whole,” said Team Manager Victor Shapovalov.

Huff was the sole Lada driver to cross the finishing line in the red-flagged race, securing ninth position.

“I had a pretty quiet weekend compared to my usual outings. But on a track where passing is close to impossible I made several places over the two races and brought the car home without a scratch so I have to be happy with that after our difficult qualifying,” said Huff.