Photo: Lada Sport Rosneft

Jaap van Lagen rejoins Lada for test in Magny-Cours

Dutch driver Jaap van Lagen returned to the wheel of one of Lada Sport’s Vesta WTCCs at the team’s French base in Magny-Cours yesterday to help the Russian manufacturer with development testing during the mid-season break.

Van Lagen competed in five rounds for the team last year, starting at the Nürburgring Nordschleife in May and finishing his season at Vila Real in July 2015, before being replaced for the final four rounds of the season by Frenchman Nicolas Lapierre, thanks in part due to Lapierre’s relationship with engine builder ORECA.

The team’s race cars are presently en route to Termas de Río Hondo, Argentina, with the WTCC’s manufacturer entrants now dependent on test cars during the summer break to continue testing.

Lada’s regular driver Nicky Catsburg, currently third in the drivers’ championship, is unable to take part due to racing commitments elsewhere. Catsburg competed in the United SportsCar Championship at the weekend for Black Swan Racing at Watkins Glen, and will be on track at Spa-Francorchamps today for Rowe Racing in their BMW M6 GT3 in an official ahead of this month’s 24 Hours of Spa at the end of the month.