Good WTCC times ahead for LADA

LADA SPORT ROSNEFT drivers Rob Huff and James Thompson have told their rivals to fear the team’s all-new Vesta.

The Britons gave the car its FIA World Touring Car Championship debut in Argentina over the weekend and while neither finished the two races, they demonstrated plenty of potential in the largely untried car.

Thompson, who was eliminated from the opening race following contact before lining up in pole position for race two, said: “There is much to be excited about with this new project. Over the weekend the LADA SPORT ROSNEFT team showed some signs of what will be achieved. We have to be realistic though that it will take time to bring everything together and when it happens we should be a force to be reckoned with.”

Huff was fastest of all in Qualifying Q1 only for an engine misfire to slow his progress. He retired from race one after a clash with Mehdi Bennani.

“The LADA SPORT ROSNEFT team were tremendous this weekend, unfortunately the driving standards of some of our colleagues were not quite so impressive,” said the 2012 WTCC champion. “I feel sorry for the team as they have done a truly tremendous job on the Vesta but I am 100 per cent sure that we will take the benefits from the great work in future races when we get to grips with the car.”