Dudukalo : I can’t wait to start testing

Aleksei Dudukalo will join James Thompson at LADA Sport Lukoil to drive one of the team’s LADA Granta cars in the 2013 FIA World Touring Car Championship.

The 36-year old driver from Moscow will face his third season in WTCC after two years at the wheel of Lukoil Racing Team’s SEAT León cars. His best result was a second place behind his team-mate Gabriele Tarquini at the Slovakia Ring last year.

Dudukalo is not new to LADA Sport, having clinched the 2012 Russian Ice Racing title in a Lukoil-backed LADA Kalina.

“I am glad to continue racing in the WTCC, especially because now I have the opportunity to do it for a factory team and in a Russian car. I hope that James and I will make life difficult for our competitors. I can’t wait to start testing the LADA Granta on the track!” Dudukalo said.

LADA Sport principal Victor Shapovalov commented: “We are pleased to welcome Aleksei, and we are confident he has the potential to achieve very good results in his third season in the World Championship.”