New challenge for Lada’s drivers on first Sonoma visit

The LADA Sport Lukoil team will compete for the first time at the Sonoma Raceway this weekend, with both drivers James Thompson and Mikhail Kozlovskiy also yet to experience the California circuit.

With the USA only added to the calendar last year, the Russian team has never been to the circuit before, nor has two-time British Touring Car champion James Thompson, whose first experience of the track will come later today in the 30 minute test session.

“I’m really happy to see Sonoma with a permanent place on our calendar. I’ve not yet experienced it personally, but from what I can see do far, the Sonoma layout actually has a few points in common with some of the traditional British tracks that I first started racing on,” said Thompson.

“It’s an unusual, narrow and twisty track, and the elevation spices things up even more. But really, there are so many aspects of this circuit that constitute a real challenge. So I’m sure we’re going to see some real spectacular racing this weekend. We’re expecting dry and sunny weather, which should enable us to get the maximum out of the car.”

Thompson’s 23-year-old Russian team-mate Kozlovskiy expects it to be a challenging weekend, having to learn the circuit from scratch in the Lada Granta.

“Sonoma Raceway isn’t an easy circuit, and it takes time to learn all the different lines and corners,” he said.

“Because of the big elevation changes, a lot of those corners are actually blind, and that’s why some previous experience of the track would definitely be of help here.

“Sonoma is probably the toughest track that we’ve been to up to now on the WTCC, which gives an idea of the measure of the challenge. But that makes it all the more interesting, and I’m really looking forward to trying out the LADA Granta here for the first time during Friday testing.”