The AvtoVAZ factory racing team unveiled the lineup and the cars set to compete this season, highlighting renewed performance and expectations. During the official presentation on May 26, several surprises surfaced. Alongside the anticipated track machines—the new Vesta NG and Vesta NG TCR—the Lada Sport Rosneft official social channels released an image hinting at a Niva Legend SUV prepared for rally raids.
Details about the Niva Legend’s technical specifications had not been disclosed at the time. However, comments from the presentation posts clarified that the powerplant is not the stock unit, but a 16-valve engine. Given Lada Sport’s history of refining VAZ 16-valve configurations, observers expect a notably capable variant. Full specifications were promised to be explained in a forthcoming video release.
Niva has a storied presence in rally raids. Its early prominence appeared in the Dakar Rally of the 1980s under the leadership of the French importer AVTOVAZ, Jean-Jacques Pok. The model returned to endurance events in the 1990s as a works car under the Niva T3 banner, and in January 2022, with the Dakar Classic offset, four private teams—from France, Switzerland, and two from Spain—began the challenge. The Spanish teams withdrew while the French and Swiss squads completed the route.
The French 191 Classic Rally Team stood out as the best among Russian entrants in the marathon, yet the Swiss Niva Red Legend Team also demonstrated that the Russian machine could still compete at a high level. That international success likely encouraged factory crews to align a Niva for rally attacks of their own.
Participation in Dakar this year remains uncertain for many Russian teams, but the Silk Way Rally is moving forward. Scheduled for July 6–16, it stands as the premier stage for the new Legend to debut. The crew features Dmitry Voronov and Evgeny Zagorodnyuk, with ongoing updates anticipated across the season.
- The fate of the SV Parts team’s Dakar-bound Niva remains intriguing, though questions still outnumber confirmed details.
- Further inside looks can be found in Odnoklassniki novels and posts.