Photo: WTCC Media

Tiago Monteiro to start from last after engine change

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Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team’s Tiago Monteiro will be forced to start from the back of the first race this weekend at Termas de Río Hondo after an engine change in his Civic Super 2000 TC yesterday evening.

Monteiro was sixth fastest in the 30 minute test session on Friday, but due to a technical issue the Honda team have requested permission to change his engine overnight, which has been granted by the FIA stewards but will see the Portuguese driver forced to start from last place for the next race.

The 1.6 litre turbocharged engines in the WTCC are required to last for the full season under the current regulations.

Monteiro joins Campos Racing’s Hugo Valente as two drivers who will start in different positions from where they qualify for race one, with Valente carrying a ten place grid drop after contact with Franz Engstler’s BMW at Porto.