Photo: TMS Sport

Vitaly Petrov tests LADA Granta at AvtoVAZ facility

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Russian Formula 1 driver Vitaly Petrov drove a ‘WTCC-ready’ version of of the new LADA Granta at the Togliatti HQ of Lada owner’s AvtoVAZ, as the company celebrated its 45th anniversary.

The racing version of the LADA Granta has been developed for the LADA Granta Cup, a one-make championship which started in Russia last month.

The cars for the cup are built by TMS Sport, which is run by Viktor Shapovalov, the team owner of the Russian Bears team which competed in the WTCC with LADA in 2008-2009.

“A racing version of LADA Granta was made in compliance with FIA WTCC technical requirements,” said Shapovalov.

“Having prepared the car for LADA Granta Cup we wanted to show how this car could have looked if it participated in the World Touring Car Championship. From the technical point of view it can be prepared for the WTCC.”

“Probably, in the future LADA may return in the WTCC – everything is possible,” added Shapovalov.

LADA left the WTCC after one season of official competition at the end of 2009, with James Thompson scoring the team’s first points with a pair of sixth place finishes at Imola.