The pressure’s off in the WTCC for Valente

Hugo Valente says he’s feeling under less pressure than ever before ahead of the new FIA World Touring Car Championship season getting underway in his native France next month.

Valente, 23, has gone from privateer to factory driver after LADA signed him for its three-car, Rosneft-backed squad for 2016.

But despite the increased profile and expectation, Valente is keeping calm in the build up to WTCC Race of France at Circuit Paul Ricard.

“Now I am driving for a factory team I feel a lot less pressure to be honest than what I have been feeling for the last few years because my objective was to become a factory driver,” said Valente. “I always had to prove myself a lot and take every single occasion I had. Sometimes it ended up being great but sometimes it ended up being highs and lows. Now I am driving for a factory team that changes and I feel much more confident. I don’t have that worry in some sense.”

Valente, who claimed three outright podiums and a front-row start for the first WTCC Race of Germany on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, will team up with Nicky Catsburg and 2009 WTCC champion Gabriele Tarquini at LADA. The trio tested in Portugal earlier this month.

“I have a lot to learn from Nicky, he’s a great driver who has shown a lot of pace last year,” said Valente. “I think I can learn a lot of consistency from Gabriele.”