Lada 110 - from rallies to WTCC

The history of the Lada 110


Lada 110 is the second front-wheel drive car manufactured by AvtoVAZ (the first was the Lada Samara). The production started in 1996. There is also a station-wagon version named 111 (1997) and a hatchback named 112 (2000).

The car was designed and developed in the end of 80's - early 90's by AvtoVAZ and Porsche engineers (The Lada Samara was also partly developed by Porsche in 1984). The engine was the known from the Samara 1.5litre with electronic fuel injection unit developed by GM. In 2005 it was replaced with a 1.6litre euro4 engine.


In 1996 a 2litre version (21106) was also unveiled by Mega-Lada. Well designed aerodynamic bodykit, wheels put wide apart and lowered suspension to emphasize the sport character of the car. The positioning of the engine fixtures was changed, the wheel-base was increased by 48 mm and the width of track had also being increased by 76 mm. The engine was the well-known "red top" Opel C20XE.


Rally versions

In 1997 the Lada 110 2.0 "kit car" was presented in order to compete in the World Rally Championship (F2 class). The car was prepared in Great Britain by Motor Sport Developments (MSD). The max power of the car was 240 HP @ 7000 rpm and the weight was about 980 kgr.

In the beginning of the 21st century FIA introduced the S1600 class in rallies (also known as JWRC). Lada Motorsport started to develop the Lada 112 S1600 rally car. MTEC-Sport from Germany also helped in this project.


The next ambitious step was the Lada 112 S2000 project, a four wheel drive rally car with turbo unit, based on the Lada 112 and developed by MTEC-Sport and Lada Motorsport.


And now WTCC...

In 2005 AvtoVAZ and MTEC-Sport founded Lada Racing in order to compete in World Touring Car Championship starting in 2006.


However the Lada WTCC project was cancelled.
In the end of 2007 there were rumours about the return of the brand in the WTCC. This time a private team, Russian Bears Motorsport, would prepare two Lada 110 2.0 to compete. When FIA announced the WTCC 2008 entry list, it was confirmed.

WTCC Rounds 5&6 - Valencia, Spain - 16-18 May 2008

On the first European event of the season, at Valencia on 16-18 of May, the Russian Bears Motorsport team and the Lada 110 2.0 S2000-spec made their maiden apperance in 2008 WTCC series.

However the two Lada 110 cars of Victor Shapovalov and Jaap van Lagen were considered transparent during the FIA WTCC races in Valencia, because of a technicality (the intake and the outlet ports of the cylinder head were not conform to the homologation form), and the cars were allowed to race upon the agreement of all the other competitors.
The team is due to make the needed adjustments in time for the next championship event, that will take place at Pau (France) on May 30th - June 1st.

16/05 Test Results:
20) Jaap van LAGEN - Lada 110 - 1:47.226

17/05 Free Practice 1 Results:
The two Russian Bears Motorsport Lada 110 cars did not take part in the session

17/05 Free Practice 2 Results:
20) Jaap van LAGEN - Lada 110 - 1:46.691
24) Victor SHAPOVALOV - Lada 110 - 1:48.983

17/05 Qualifying Results:
21) Jaap van LAGEN - Lada 110 - 2:04.796
Victor SHAPOVALOV - Lada 110 - 17:00.998 (DNQ)
(qualifying session on wet track, finally those who were DNQ were allowed to race)

18/05 Warm Up Results:
21) Jaap van LAGEN - Lada 110 - 1:46.050
22) Victor SHAPOVALOV - Lada 110 - 1:46.706

18/05 Race 1 Results:
1) Robert HUFF - Chevrolet Lacetti - 22:52.987
2) Gabriele TARQUINI - SEAT Leon TDI - 22:58.363
3) Jordi GENE - SEAT Leon TDI - 23:03.082
........................................................................................
20) Victor SHAPOVALOV - Lada 110 - 24:12.195
Jaap van LAGEN - Lada 110 - 3:08.796 (DNF)

18/05 Race 2 Results:
1) Alain MENU - Chevrolet Lacetti - 22:47.994
2) Robert HUFF - Chevrolet Lacetti - 22:50.435
3) Andy PRIAULX - BMW 320si - 22:51.946 13 3.952
.................................................................................................
Jaap van LAGEN - Lada 110 - 15:21.784 (DNF)
Victor SHAPOVALOV - Lada 110 - 3:50.218 (DNF)

photo: fiawtcc.com

Lada in WTCC

Next weekend, May 17th & 18th, the third WTCC event will be held at Valencia (Spain). Two Lada 110 2.0 are expected to make their first appearance there. The cars are prepared and run by "Russian Bears Motorsport", a russian private team which has already participated in two races of 2007 WTCC with three BMW 320 E46.

The two drivers are the russian Victor Shapovalov (No 28) and the dutchman Jaap van Lagen (No 29).

The car has already been tested at Zandvoort (the Netherlands) and in the official WTCC test session at Oschersleben (Germany) and the results are encouraging by now.