The Russian model that's based on Renault Group underpinnings will make its racing debut before it enters serial production ...

the car’s record on reliability, comfort, and performance remained far from impressive. As improbable as it sounds, the Lada Samara also enjoyed a brief career in the world of motorsport.

About the only Soviet-era vehicle that still survives in quantity on the roads in that region is the original Lada sedan, and I found this early example in a yard near Долни чифлик ...