Huff and Thompson to run Lada Sport tests in Portimao

World Touring Car Championship squad Lada Sport Rosneft will run an extended test schedule at the Portimao circuit in Portugal as they look to find vital improvements ahead of the second round of the season in Marrakesh.

The Russian team is using its brand new Lada Sport Vesta TC1 which made its debut at the 2015 curtain-raiser in Argentina at the hands of British duo James Thompson and Robert Huff. It was a weekend full of frustrations for the team, with both drivers failing to complete a classified finish in either race at the Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo circuit.

The two Brits plus third Lada Sport driver Mikhail Kozlovskiy, who was forced to sit out the 2015 season opener has his car wasn't ready, will all take part in the four day test this week (30 March-2 April) in preparation for the Circuit Moulay El Hassan round in Marrakesh in three weeks time.

Lada Sport engineers have set out a plan of development for the Vesta TC1 using data collected from the season opening Round at Argentina.

The team will also test some new and existing in Portimao to make up for the lack of the pre-season testing the team endured while preparing its all-new car for 2015.