WTCC Vesta a ’huge step’, says LADA team head

LADA Sport Rosneft chief Victor Shapovalov has labelled his squad’s new-for-2016 Vesta TC1 a “huge step forward”.

Although the car failed to deliver a third FIA World Touring Car Championship race win for the Russian make, Rob Huff bagged a podium brace, while Nicky Catsburg made it through to the Qualifying Q3 shootout for FIA WTCC DHL Race of Qatar.

“It has been a successful year for the launch of the Vesta in WTCC with much to be proud of for the new car, the team, engineers, designers and drivers as a whole,” said Shapovalov. “The car has been a huge step forward for the brand and we look forward to making bigger steps towards the front in WTCC in 2016.”

LADA is planning to increase sales of the Vesta in Russia next year, while beginning sales of the new car across Europe. Its WTCC participation with a upgraded version of its Vesta TC1, will be central to its marketing effort.