Photo: WTCC Media

Honda drivers surprised by qualifying pace despite 70kg ballast

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Honda Racing Team JAS drivers Rob Huff and Tiago Monteiro qualified third and fourth on the grid for the main race of the World Touring Car Championship at Hungary, despite being awarded with 70kg of compensation weight ahead of the weekend. The two drivers are delighted with the results which sees Honda still leading the manufactuers’ standings after qualifying.

Rob Huff set the best time in the second part of qualifying, before producing a time fast enough for third on the grid behind Citroën driver José María López and the ballast-free Chevrolet of Tom Coronel for the main race, with team-mate Tiago Monteiro just one spot behind in their Civic WTCCs.

“I think the new surface here has helped us carry the 70kg of weight, but I think in the race it’s going to hurt,” said Huff to TouringCarTimes.

“Today the car has been spot on and we’ve managed to exploit it and make it work for us. We definitely had some mid-corner oversteer in Turn 2 and 3 on my Q3 lap which I guess is from the temperature change, which just dropped as soon as the sun was going down, and I’m too new with the car to know what to do in those circumstances,” he added.

Monteiro, who slipped to two points behind López in the drivers’ standings after qualifying fourth, was delighted with the performance of the Honda, which is carrying compensation weight for the first time this season.

“I’ve said many times this weekend we’re going to struggle to get into Q2,” said Monteiro to TouringCarTimes. “I thought we were going to have to play for tenth, not because we wanted to, but that’s because where we were going to be, but the grip was there, the car was very good to drive and we have three cars up front. With 70kg onboard, it’s surprising, but great.”

Monteiro wasn’t too shocked to have lost his points lead to López, but hopes a good result on Sunday could still keep him in the frame.

“I wasn’t expecting to be in Q3 at all so I was set to lose the lead, but the big points are tomorrow, so I’ll hope to recover tomorrow, we’ll fight, I don’t want to lose the lead so easily.”