New Lada Driver Announced: James Thompson

werner · 31 May 2009, 11:17 (Ref:2472592)

The dutch commenter at the WTCC-race said that in Porto Lada would come with big news: not only do they bring their new car, but they will also present, and maybe race a new driver. According to the commenter, it was a driver who was well known in wtcc.
Any guesses?

werner · 31 May 2009, 11:18 (Ref:2472594)

My guess: Giovanardi

He is free at 5 july, and his factorycontract will end when Vauxhall stops their btcc-efforts.

**FIRE** · 31 May 2009, 12:04 (Ref:2472634)

Does this mean an extra car or will he replace Shapovalov?

werner · 31 May 2009, 12:09 (Ref:2472641)

He did not say. But I can imagine that Shapovalov and or Ladigin will at least drive the old car, while the new cars get to the new driver and van Lagen.

helterskelter · 31 May 2009, 13:03 (Ref:2472680)

Quote:

Originally Posted by werner

He did not say. But I can imagine that Shapovalov and or Ladigin will at least drive the old car, while the new cars get to the new driver and van Lagen.

I think van Lagen and Ladygin will get the new car. Ladigyin is the guy Lada brought in...

Valker · 31 May 2009, 13:11 (Ref:2472685)

Some news regarding Priora (in Russian, use Google translator or similar):
http://wtcc.lada.ru/news_view.php?id=741
http://wtcc.lada.ru/news_view.php?id=781

FIA delegate has visited the AvtoVAZ factory in Tolyatti and the homologation of the base model (Priora sedan) is now ok. Homologation (А-5727) is valid from June.

Homologation of the race model (S2000 kit) will take place in Holland (in the Russian Bears' workshop, I guess) in 25th of June.

helterskelter · 31 May 2009, 14:29 (Ref:2472714)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valker

Some news regarding Priora (in Russian, use Google translator or similar):
http://wtcc.lada.ru/news_view.php?id=741
http://wtcc.lada.ru/news_view.php?id=781

FIA delegate has visited the AvtoVAZ factory in Tolyatti and the homologation of the base model (Priora sedan) is now ok. Homologation (А-5727) is valid from June.

Homologation of the race model (S2000 kit) will take place in Holland (in the Russian Bears' workshop, I guess) in 25th of June.

If so, no Priora in Brno...

werner · 31 May 2009, 14:45 (Ref:2472726)

Iirc it was always due to debut in Portugal.

helterskelter · 31 May 2009, 17:01 (Ref:2472774)

Quote:

Originally Posted by werner

Iirc it was always due to debut in Portugal.

I'd heard it was due in Brno... Ok then, we'll welcome the newcomer in Porto, if it all goes ok.
My guess? Duncan Huisman...

awrb · 31 May 2009, 20:09 (Ref:2472896)

It was initially to be launched at Brno, but the debut was put back to Porto just before the season iirc. Can't see Gio in the car to be honest, Huisman could be a good guess though.

duke_toaster · 31 May 2009, 20:22 (Ref:2472909)

Stephen Kane? BTCC experience plus being at WTCC meetings for co-commentating/test driving on F2?

helterskelter · 31 May 2009, 22:38 (Ref:2472982)

Quote:

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

Stephen Kane? BTCC experience plus being at WTCC meetings for co-commentating/test driving on F2?

I would think of a more experienced guy...
I said Duncan Huisman because the man is Dutch (where Russian Bears are based) and he has a long international experience in TC.

BootsOntheSide · 1 Jun 2009, 00:17 (Ref:2473024)

What's Dirk Muller doing these days? Anybody got any predictions for how the new car will perform?

werner · 1 Jun 2009, 06:19 (Ref:2473134)

Peter Baert mentioned more than once that it was a guy with wtcc-experience and results, so that rules out Kane. Huisman would be nice, and logical as well.

Alex K · 1 Jun 2009, 06:56 (Ref:2473148)

Dirk Muller is factory BMW driver for RLR in ALMS.

helterskelter · 1 Jun 2009, 09:03 (Ref:2473198)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

What's Dirk Muller doing these days? Anybody got any predictions for how the new car will perform?

As has been said, Dirk is still in the BMW family but is now racing in America with the new M3.
I think that, by the end of the year, Ladas should be able to get near the top ten in terms of race results. With the old car they managed a 13th, so if they do improve I can't see why they shouldn't score occasional points.

Robbe · 1 Jun 2009, 10:14 (Ref:2473241)

Not sure if they can afford such a big name as Fabrizio Giovanardi, and not sure if Giovanardi wants to risk ruining his CV by driving in a Lada. Even if they improve, they're still quite far away from the works drivers, and also unreliable.

But apart from Gio and Huisman, who could it be?
Antonio Garcia? Roberto Colciago?

helterskelter · 1 Jun 2009, 10:59 (Ref:2473265)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robbe

Not sure if they can afford such a big name as Fabrizio Giovanardi, and not sure if Giovanardi wants to risk ruining his CV by driving in a Lada. Even if they improve, they're still quite far away from the works drivers, and also unreliable.

But apart from Gio and Huisman, who could it be?
Antonio Garcia? Roberto Colciago?

Agreed about Giovanardi, especially about the 'cv' thing.
Colciago is contracted to Seat Sport Italia and is engaged virtually every week. Garcia could be, but I'm not sure what's the link between him and Lada.
How about Ekblom? He's having trouble with the bio-gas Scirocco...

crt · 1 Jun 2009, 11:38 (Ref:2473294)

And what about James Thompson? Is he driving in STCC?

Valker · 1 Jun 2009, 12:17 (Ref:2473316)

Italiaracing claims it's Thompson who Lada wants to hire.

I bet he can't do all three series (DTC, BTCC and WTCC) but must drop one (or two) if he's about to race a Lada.

helgi · 1 Jun 2009, 12:18 (Ref:2473318)

http://italiaracing.net/notizia.asp?id=23488&cat=18 - they say it IS James Thompson...

stedevil · 1 Jun 2009, 13:40 (Ref:2473375)

Thompson?!?!

Well, I guess if the money is right, he wont mind too much about having to give up either DTC and BTCC to get back into WTCC. He really belongs at WTCC level in any case.

But Huisman still sounds like a more likely/logical alternative to me.

Speed-King · 1 Jun 2009, 14:59 (Ref:2473411)

Do we know how many races the rumored new Lada driver is suppossed to compete in? If it's just the odd on-off I can easily see it being Thommo, the guy seems to race anything with four wheels lately: BTCC, DTC and IIRC also the two V8Supercar enduros this year.

**FIRE** · 1 Jun 2009, 15:03 (Ref:2473415)

But Huisman is a BMW guy too.

Some other news about LADA/WTCC:
- The Russian Bears team will move from Holland to Belgium.
- Next season there are races planned at Zolder and Toljatti.

helterskelter · 1 Jun 2009, 20:01 (Ref:2473623)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRE

But Huisman is a BMW guy too.

Some other news about LADA/WTCC:
- The Russian Bears team will move from Holland to Belgium.
- Next season there are races planned at Zolder and Toljatti.

Belgium? I feel the smell of Corthals here...

Just had an interview with van Lagen, the new driver is an absolute secret.
Anyway, I seem to have understood that the deal is already done, it's just a matter of where and when will they announce it. No, nobody know if it's going to be a one-off (in which case Giovanardi and Thommo are likely) or a full season (in which case Corthals and Huisman are more likely).

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
James Thompson??	Lewis	Touring Car Racing	2	21 Sep 2002 11:16
James Thompson	Invincible	Touring Car Racing	5	17 Aug 2002 18:48
James Thompson	Whitey	Sportscar & GT Racing	10	11 Jul 2002 21:22
James Thompson crash	Dan Friel	Touring Car Racing	2	11 Apr 2000 23:39