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Lada chief engineer joins Ciceley Motorsport for 2016

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Ciceley Motorsport have announced a change of personnel in its engineering department, with Lada’s Marco Calovolo replacing Paul Ridgway as Technical Director.

Ridgway will leave his post at the head of Ciceley Motorsport’s engineering team after three seasons to pursue an opportunity with WestCoast Racing in the TCR International Series. He was working with WestCoast Racing in the TCR International Series debut season in 2015. Ridgway’s role will also expand to cover WestCoast Racing and Polestar Cyan Racing’s co-run programme in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship in 2016.

Replacing Ridgway will be former Lada Sport engineer, Marco Calovolo, who has over 25 years of experience in touring cars, recently working on the WTCC Ladas of James Thompson and Nick Catsburg. He has also worked in Formula 1 and DTM before working as a key member of both the Alfa Romeo and Lada WTCC projects.

Calovolo will oversee the work on Adam Morgan’s Mercedes-Benz A-Class, and will be joined by Federico Turrata, who has enjoyed success in the Chinese Touring Car Championship and will concentrate on the A-Class of Aiden Moffatt.

The pair will get their first looks at their new projects during a three-day test at Portimao in late February.

“It is with great sadness that Paul is leaving us, not only for his brilliance as an engineer but also as a close friend to both Adam and me,” said Ciceley Motorsport owner, Russell Morgan. “Paul has made it clear that he still wishes to see ‘his Merc’s’ fighting at the front and will always be on hand to assist where possible. We are, however, incredibly excited and lucky to have Marco and Federico joining us, as their pedigree is there for all to see.”

“Changes like this are always inevitable in racing,” added Bob Moffatt of Aiden Moffatt Racing. “We have a strong engineering team joining us and, with the introduction of the new RML components, I believe we have a strong platform to build on. I would like to thank Paul for his tremendous efforts and would like to wish him all the best in his new role.”