Why Tarquini declined longer LADA WTCC offer

Gabriele Tarquini has revealed how he turned down a multi-year contract offer from LADA in favour of an initial one-season deal to race for the Russian make in the FIA World Touring Car Championship – to be sure he’s the right man for the job.

Tarquini, WTCC champion in 2009, is a new LADA recruit for this season after his contract to race for Honda was not renewed.

“We have a one-year deal because I wanted a one-year deal,” said the 54-year-old Italian. “When I start speaking with Viktor [Shapovalov, LADA Sport Rosneft Team Principal] he was proposing me a long deal but I think just for 2016. If, after the end of the season in Qatar you are happy and if I am happy then we can continue maybe. But at my age I am thinking year-by-year and we will see what the result is or isn’t. I am here for a surprise.”

Tarquini has already come in for praise from new team-mates Nicky Catsburg and Hugo Valente.

“I’ve been having the chance to listen to him and it’s going to be super good to work with him,” said Catsburg.

“He knows everything about the car, he’s been helping LADA a lot to develop the car in a different way than it has been going so far,” Valente added. “I think we will see the results in the upcoming season.”