Valente: I couldn’t be happier

Not racing in the sport’s highest echelon in 2016 would have made his giant-killing escapades in the FIA World Touring Car Championship last term pointless, according to Hugo Valente.

Valente, who has followed Norbert Michelisz by turning FIA World Touring Car Championship privateer to WTCC factory driver for the upcoming season, will form part of LADA Sport Rosneft’s three-strong bid for WTCC honours after being singled-out by the Russian squad for his pace and potential.

But despite his talent, 23-year-old Valente feared funding issues would keep him off the WTCC grid until LADA came calling at the 11th hour.

“I wouldn’t say I was depressed but I was very stressed-out not knowing what I could do and it seemed like the past few years were for nothing because I wasn’t sure if I could keep going in the WTCC,” said Frenchman Valente. “When you have a good season you are more motivated again to be there again the year after so when I had no idea what I would be able to do it was tough because I knew I couldn’t keep it going in the WTCC as a privateer. It was a tough winter and it felt like a huge disappointment but now I have this opportunity with LADA I couldn’t be happier – I am delighted to be honest.”

Driving a Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 for Campos Racing, Valente finished ninth in last season’s WTCC standings with three outright podiums.