LADA SPORT ROSNEFT reaped the rewards of several years of participation in the FIA World Touring Car Championship with a sensational result at their home race in Moscow today (12th June 2016) with a sensational 1-2 result in both the Opening and Main races.
The Russian team were absolutely dominant with a commanding display that saw Gabriele Tarquini bring his Lada Vesta TC1 across the line first closely followed by Nicky Catsburg in second position in the Opening race despite starting the reverse grid race in 9th and 10th places respectively. The team’s third driver Hugo Valente bringing his Vesta home in P4 for an incredible result for the team.
The day’s Main race saw the trio start 1-2-3 on the grid and grasp the opportunity to capitalize with Catsburg and Tarquini never challenged from great starts as they pulled clear of the chasing pack to achieve the teams second 1-2 finish of the day, this time with Catsburg scoring his maiden win for the team.
Extraordinarily this result puts the Dutchman in his first season of WTCC in second place in the World Drivers Championship the highest position ever held by a Lada driver since the outset of their participation in the Championship.
The result was even more satisfying as it gave the chance to the home fans and the guests of Rosneft and Lada the chance to witness first hand the result of the team’s efforts with the fantastic support that they have provided.
Victor Shapovalov who has masterminded Lada Sport’s campaign in the FIA WTCC said This is a great day. To achieve a 1-2 result at our home event is incredible and to achieve it twice in just a dream result. This is the culmination of incredible hard work from the team and all that have supported the programme along the journey. LADA SPORT ROSNEFT have firmly arrived at the top of the WTCC on merit and I am immensely proud!
Nicky Catsburg, scoring his maiden WTCC pole position and victory this weekend and sitting 2nd in the World Championship standings If you had told me one year ago that I would have got a P1 and P2 on the same day, in Moscow in the LADA SPORT ROSNEFT Vesta and been second place in the World Championship I would not have believed it. It is a dream result!
Gabriele Tarquini who had the privilege of achieving the first ever victory for the Vesta and was credited by his team mates for bringing the experience necessary to the team to achieve such a result I spent a lot of time developing the Lada Vesta in Magny Cours in the winter in similar conditions and I suggested some changes that made a big difference. Unfortunately my team mate also used this to his advantage and was quicker than me in qualifying! I am very happy to have won today, especially from P9 on the grid. The car was fantastic and everybody did a great job. Who knows if it rains every weekend then we can fight for the Championship!
The team now hope to carry the momentum forward to the next round of the Championship in two weeks time on the streets of Vila Real, Portugal which will present and entirely different challenge for the Russian team.
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