The LADA 110 2.0 cars have been updated for this week’s event in Valencia. The three Russian machines are now powered by a new engine, which is due to deliver some more horsepower.
The team are also hoping that they can take advantage of the compensation weight system to maximise every opportunity over the Spanish weekend.
Jaap Van Lagen commented: "I’m very much looking forward to these races and hopefully we can put some of the bad luck behind us now. I’ll be very interested to see how much of an effect the new engine has here, but the main thing is that we are obviously making progress."
Team principal Viktor Shapovalov added: "We had a very busy couple of weeks after Pau, as there was a lot of work to do in order to repair the cars and test the new engine. Now everything is ready and we can concentrate on doing a good job on what is generally a more conventional circuit than the last two we have visited. The most important thing is to have a clean weekend in order to put us in a strong position to capitalise on any chances that come our way."
The LADA Sport cars benefit from a new engine in Spain
PROMOTER’S COMMENTS ON THE EVE OF VALENCIA
On the eve of the fifth event of the season in Valencia, WTCC promoter Marcello Lotti answered a few questions.
The previous event in Pau was troubled by never-ending technical checks on the engine speed and supercharged air pressure limits. This had never been done before, why did the Stewards decide to ask for these checks in Pau?
"The situation after Marrakech left the FIA no other choice but to adopt the most rigorous approach in enforcing the existing regulations. However, after the event in Pau it became clear that it was not in the interest of the competitors to put the rule maker and referee of WTCC, the FIA, in such a position. Instead, all agreed to ask the FIA to clarify the rules."
Before Valencia the FIA Technical Department and the FIA Touring Car Bureau issued documents clarifying the engine speed limit and increasing the limit of the supercharged air pressure for the diesel engines to 2.7 bar relative. Another change of regulations then?
"Not at all. As it was clearly indicated these were clarifications of the existing regulations. Before the beginning of the season the FIA fixed the limit of the supercharged air pressure to 2.5 bar relative, a value that was to be adjusted taking into account the outside air pressure and temperature. This resulted in 2.5 bar in Puebla and 2.9 in Marrakech. Now, using the experience from the first four events of the season, the FIA was able to fix a new limit which is due to stay – without fluctuations – until the end of the season. We are confident that this, together with the compensation weight system, will actually balance performance on the track and ensure the close racing we all want to see."
FASTEST CARS IN THE PREVIOUS EVENTS
Lap time calculation as per art. 79 Sporting Regulations
Curitiba, BRA: 1st SEAT León Tdi; 2nd BMW 320si (+ 0.252); 3rd: Chevrolet Cruze LT (+ 0.337)
Puebla, MEX: 1st BMW 320si; 2nd SEAT León Tdi (+ 0.419); 3rd: BMW 320si GBS (+ 1.497) Marrakech, MAR: 1st Chevrolet Cruze LT; 2nd SEAT León Tdi (+ 0.191); 3rd: BMW 320si (+ 0.831)
Pau, FRA: 1st BMW 320si; 2nd Chevrolet Cruze LT (+ 0.579); 3rd: SEAT León Tfsi (+ 1.002)