Avtovaz plan Lada’s return to WTCC

Russian car manufacturer AVTOVAZ confirmed their plans to return to the FIA World Touring Car Championship with the LADA Sport Team and the LADA Granta Sport car.

The programme is due to kick off with the participation in two events in 2012: at Budapest’s Hungaroring on May 6th and Estoril on June 3rd. The aim is to test the Granta racing car in view of a probable involvement in the world championship from 2013.

The LADA Granta Sport has been built and developed by the LADA Sport Team for the LADA Granta Cup, using the experience gained during their previous participation in the WTCC. The Russian squad is currently working to build a Super 2000 version of the car.

The LADA Sport Team took part in WTCC in 2008 and 2009 running three LADA 110 cars and then switching to the LADA Priora. Their best results were a couple of sixth places at Imola with James Thompson.