November 21st, in Moscow OAO AVTOVAZ and K.S.O., the WTCC promoter,
signed the agreement on LADA team participation in the World Touring Car
Championship from 2009 onwards.
The document promoting the Russian motor sport and automotive industry
to a new level was signed by Boris Aleshin, Chairman of the biggest
Russian car concern, and Marcello Lotti, K.S.O. general manager. From now
on there will be a new name among global leading car producers
struggling for victory on racing tracks.
AVTOVAZ is the first Russian representative that will participate in the
high level motor racing. The Company has already started preparing three
LADA PRIORAs. Having replaced LADA 110, the new car is to enter the
world touring track in spring next year, when the WTCC European part of
the season starts.
The agreement gives the Russian car company a technological impulse that
will affect AVTOVAZ serial products as well as provides the Company with
an opportunity to become a member of the privileged global car
manufacturers club. The step can be called a Russian breakthrough. Never
before has our country taken part in this level car racing that gathers
best sportsmen and state-of-the-art technologies. Through participating
in prestigious championships, the LADA brand may enter a new quality
level, lay the foundation for further development of automotive
technologies in terms of world motor sport as well as the whole auto
industry, as they are inseparable parts of auto sphere.
Boris Aleshin, “LADA PRIORA has great potential. This year AVTOVAZ plans
to sell 160,000 LADA PRIORAs including export. The Company also intends
to expand its output. We are going to move forward, so motor sport is a
good opportunity for us to prove ourselves. During the first season we
plan to be in a “golden mean”, but then pick up speed. We are highly
ambitious!”
Marcello Lotti, “The arrival of the LADA team is a great honor for us.
It is the leading Russian car producer having 70% of the national
automotive market. We are ready to help AVTOVAZ with preparation and
homologation of the racing LADA PRIORAs. I’d also like to note that WTCC
is beneficial for all its participants. Having invested one euro at the
beginning of a season, a producer receives a media-payoff of EUR 32-33.
Welcome to WTCC!”
Being the arena of struggle between car leaders from various countries,
Touring Car Racing Series has been held since 2005. Due to its
popularity and pilots that take part in, WTCC may compete with Formula 1.
The first round of the Championship is to be held in Curitiba, Brazil,
March 7-8, 2009.
Source: Press service ОAО AVTOVAZ
