FLAMAND/DPPI
TEAM AND DRIVER GUIDE
WorldMags.net
LADA
LADA VESTA WTCC
Now backed by Russian state-owned oil company
Rosneft and fielding a new car designed and
developed in France by ORECA, Lada should no
longer be an also-ran. The Vesta is new from the
ground up and has tested extensively in private
at Magny-Cours over the winter.
LADA SPORT
ROB HUFF
2012 champion Huff is competitive as
ever, as evinced by his hustling of the
overweight and aerodynamically bluff
Lada Granta to finishes above its
station last year, including a pair of
hard-fought reversed-grid race wins.
If the new Vesta is fast out of the box
he will be a regular contender.
JAMES THOMPSON
Twice a champion at British and
European level, Thompson has
struggled to match that form in the
WTCC, last coming close at the wheel
of an unfancied Alfa Romeo in 2007.
Usually a match for team-mate Huff in
qualifying in 2014, he was unlucky (or
got involved in accidents) in races.
MIKHAIL
KOZLOVSKIY
After a largely
unimpressive debut in
2013, the 25-year-old
Russian showed better
form last year. He still
has much to do to
match his team-mates.
MUNNICH MOTORSPORT
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HONDA RACING TEAM SWEDEN
RICKARD RYDELL
Having done very little since his Scandinavian title
success in 2012, Rydell makes a welcome WTCC
return for his first full-time campaign since 2009.
First races will be a learning experience having only
driven the Civic for a brief shakedown pre-season.
PROTEAM RACING
CHEVROLET
CHEVROLET
CRUZE WTCC
Chevrolet left the WTCC at the end of 2013, but
Ray Mallock Limited has kept the flame alive by
supplying a TC1-spec Cruze to independents. The
non-Citroens caught up in ’14, but developments
have been promised – if teams can afford them.
NORBERT MICHELISZ
Often outqualified the works Hondas last year,
leading to offers from elsewhere – which he turned
down to remain with Zengo.
CAMPOS RACING
ROAL MOTORSPORT
HUGO VALENTE, JOHN FILIPPI
The impressive Valente, an occasional podium
finisher in 2014, remains at Campos and is joined by
20-year-old Filippi, who steps up from the TC2 ranks.
DUSAN BORKOVIC
The vertiginous Borkovic had a decent rookie
season in 2014, including a podium finish, but is
struggling to fit in his new Civic.
ZENGO MOTORSPORT
STEFANO D’ASTE, TBC
Serial BMW privateer D’Aste sat out last season,
citing the cost of the new TC1 cars, but returns
in a Chevrolet. German team Munnich plans to
recruit a second full-time driver.
TOM CHILTON
Now a tin-top veteran,
Chilton remains with
the legendary Roberto
Ravaglia’s ROAL team
for a second season.
Expectations will be
high since he was the
only non-Citroen driver
to win a feature race in
2014, helping ROAL to
take the Independent
Teams’ Trophy.
TOM CORONEL
Perennially plucky
privateer Coronel was late
confirming his 2015
programme after
contesting the Dakar Rally,
but returns for another
season with ROAL. His
car will now run in DHL
livery but funding is still
tight, and his Cruze may
not have the latest engine
and chassis developments.
WorldMags.net
CRAFT BAMBOO
GREGOIRE DEMOUSTIER
Craft Bamboo returns to the WTCC with GT convert
Demoustier, a protege of ex-F1 driver Olivier Panis.
The team may run a second car later in the season.
MARCH 5 2015 AUTOSPORT.COM 81