Jaap van Lagen wants points in 2009

The flying Dutchman Jaap van Lagen is going to try and make the Lada fly in the FIA World Touring Car Championship 2009. The Lada-team and cars are on the way to Brazil for the WTCC premiere and van Lagen is having a good feeling ahead of the season start.

“I have a really good feeling! It is really nice to work on a higher level as Lada have stepped in officially in the series,” said van Lagen to TouringCarTimes.com.

The team will continue with the 110-model from last year for the first five races. The new Priora-model will be introduced at the race at Brno.

As the team has done no pre season testing ahead of the season start, van Lagen’s expectations of the first race are modest.

“There is only one aim for us for the first race and that is to take the cars over the finish line,” said van Lagen.

The Lada 110 made its WTCC debut last year in the hands of van Lagen. Russian Bears Motorsport have developed the car and van Lagen has done many kilometers in it.

“The strength of this car is the weight and ability to change direction quickly. The car works very well on Oschersleben for example, a track that has a lot of corners and a short straight. The weakness is the engine at the moment,” said van Lagen.

Last year van Lagen combined his WTCC racing with the Porsche Supercup. Although not confirmed yet, he will most likely continue.

“At this very moment I do not know. But my aim is to do it again this year,” said van Lagen.

For the 2009 season Lada has stepped in and given the project its official blessing. While it is unknown what kind of budget Lada has got, van Lagen is looking forward to better results this year.

“I like the team and the people in it. They are always working hard with the car and to improve it. The ambition for the season is without a doubt to finish within the points,” said van Lagen.