Nicky Catsburg has revealed his plan for success when the FIA World Touring Car Championship goes on tour from next month.
The WTCC will visit Argentina, Japan, China, Thailand and Qatar between August and November. While Catsburg has knowledge of the latter four tracks, Circuito Termas de Río Hondo in Argentina is all new to the flying Dutchman, who forms part of the three-strong LADA Sport Rosneft factory team.
But as well as learning the 4.806-kilometre track, Catsburg has set out two key objectives.
“One of our main goals ahead of Argentina and the rest of the rounds is to find more pace with added ballast,” he said in acknowledgement of the extra compensation weight the works Vesta TC1s will carry on the back of significantly increased on-track pace. “We also need to improve our performance in dry conditions.”
LADA used WTCC Race of Argentina in 2015 to debut its all-new Vesta with former factory driver James Thompson lining up on the reverse-grid pole position.