Lada Granta WTCC

Lore & Background

The Lada Granta WTCC is based on the Lada Granta Cup car, a single-make trophy raced mostly in Russia and neighbouring countries. Compared to the cup car, the WTCC version is fitted with a 1.6 litre turbocharged engine, and the body and suspension are modified to comply with WTCC rules. The car was tested at the Magny-Cours track in April 2012 and debuted in the 2012 FIA WTCC Race of Hungary in May 2012.

Lada had previously competed in the 2009 World Touring Car Championship with three Lada 110s and Lada Prioras, seeing moderate success before pulling out in 2010. The manufacturer returned in 2012 with James Thompson driving the Granta in selected events. In 2013, Mikhail Kozlovskiy joined Thompson for the Granta's first full WTCC season. The car was later modified for entry into the 2014 World Touring Car Championship under the new TC1 regulations, taking two wins in the hands of Rob Huff at Beijing Goldenport and Macau.

Reader's Guide

The Lada Granta WTCC represents a significant chapter in Lada's involvement in international touring car racing. After withdrawing from the WTCC in 2010, Lada returned in 2012 with a car derived from its domestic Granta Cup series, adapting it to Super 2000 specifications. The car's development and competition history show a progression from selected events in 2012 to a full season in 2013 with two drivers. Its modification for the 2014 TC1 regulations and subsequent two wins—at Beijing Goldenport and Macau with Rob Huff—mark the car's competitive peak. The Granta WTCC's legacy lies in demonstrating Lada's ability to build a car capable of winning at the highest level of touring car racing, while also serving as a bridge between the manufacturer's domestic racing program and the world championship. The car's basis in the Granta Cup series highlights the connection between national single-make trophies and international competition.