Lada has confirmed it will leave the World Touring Car Championship at the end of the 2016 season.

The Russian firm had been expected to announce its exit after it was reported last week that it had decided to end its five-year stay in the WTCC.

Its exit was formally confirmed by Alexander Bredikhin, marketing director for Lada’s parent company AvtoVAZ, on Thursday.

The two races in Qatar later this month will therefore be the manufacturer’s last in the WTCC.

Lada has enjoyed its most successful season in the championship to date this year, but will now join fellow manufacturer Citroen in quitting at the end of the season – leaving Honda and Volvo as the WTCC’s remaining factory participants for 2017.

The team had informed its drivers Nick Catsburg, Gabriele Tarquini and Hugo Valente last week that they were free from their contracts.