Lada hoping to run unchanged line-up in 2016

The Russian manufacturer has had the most varied driver line-up of any team this season. The team started 2015 with the same line-up it finished 2014 with - Rob Huff, James Thompson and Mikhail Kozlovskiy.

Both Thompson and Kozlovskiy left the team after just three races, with Jaap van Lagen and Nicky Catsburg brought in to replace them, before Nicolas Lapierre was then brought in to replace van Lagen from the Japanese round of the championship.

"I am very happy with the current driver line-up," said team boss Viktor Shapovalov.

"We have three great drivers in Rob, Nicky and Nicolas and they are working well together and with the team. I hope we will retain these drivers for next year."

Catsburg is understood to have two clashes next year with his American sports car programme, which will mean the Dutchman would need to be substituted for those races, while Lapierre and Huff are able to compete for the whole season.

With the Vesta now finishing its debut season, Shapovalov confirmed Lada Sport are studying the possibility of providing cars to independent teams in 2016.

"Of course it is a possibility we are considering at the moment, but a decision has not been taken yet," he said.

"We need to make sure we can deliver a competitive car to customers, but to be honest seeing more Ladas on the track would be a great addition to our project. We will see in the future."

Pietro Casillo/TouringCarTimes