A 1985, Lada 2105 VFTS taking part in the Slowly Sideways Rally Rallying Demonstration, at the 2023 Silverstone Festival
This is the only Group B Lada in the UK, and it has been brought to the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard by its owner of 15 years, Tim Bendle. Rally driver Stasys Brundza was the driving force behind the Group B Ladas. Having had success throughout Europe, Lada gave him the green light to oversee production of an official competition variant of the Fiat-derived saloon. It was Vilnius Fabrik Tuning Sport in his native Lithuania the completed the work, hence the VFTS branding. The twin-choke carburettors and other work liberated 167PS (123kW) from the , eight-valve four-cylinder engine – up by about 100PS on the showroom car. The VFTS also went on a weight-loss programme. The first editions weighed about 920kg, while a move from fibreglass to aluminium body panels later reduced that by a further 100kg. To make an affordable equivalent of a dogleg gearbox, the shift pattern was re-arranged so that first gear is top right of the ‘H’ and second is top left. Close ratios ensure that the engine is always in the strongest part of the rev range.
Size: 5187px × 3328px
Location: Silverstone Circuit, Towcester, Northamptonshire, NN12 8TN
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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