Photo: WTCR

Tiago Monteiro: “I will do anything I can to be champion”

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Honda driver Tiago Monteiro is aiming for the very top of the 2020 World Touring Car Cup season that starts at Zolder this weekend, chasing that elusive first world title.

“I start the season with the goal of fighting for the championship,” said Monteiro.

“I wouldn’t be here and I wouldn’t make this extra effort just to race. I’ve raced for 24 years now and been in [World Touring Cars] since 2007. I love it but I don’t just want to be a number. I really want to win the championship because I still feel it was robbed from me in 2017 so I will do anything I can to be champion.”

The Portuguese driver had a tough season last year with team KCMG, finishing 20th overall, but will for this season join main Honda team Münnich Motorsport along with his three team-mates Attila Tassi, Néstor Girolami and Esteban Guerrieri.

“It’s always strange in a way because working with JAS for eight years or so, you get used to some habits, some procedures, some ways of working,” said Monteiro.

“When you change teams, even though I do that when I race at other events, you always have to get used to it. But it’s not like I’ve only been with JAS. It’s a proper change even though I’ve kept my race engineer, Nicola De Val, so it’s not a complete full change. The procedures of the team, the approach of the team is very different but it’s good and refreshing. I’m happy about this change and we can do a good job together.”

The WTCR season opener was recently moved from Salzburgring to Zolder, a circuit Monteiro has raced on before.

“The last time I was there was two years ago when I was still evaluating my possible comeback,” said Monteiro.

“I had a small test with Tom Coronel and Benjamin Lessennes. They were there to help me assess my level and my performance and support me. It was still a bit early in my recovery because my eyes were not very well aligned, but it was interesting, even though it was wet, damp and very slippery. I did World Series by Nissan there in 2004 and I won both races against Heikki Kovalainen. I also had a podium each year we went there with WTCC in 2010 and 2011. I would describe it as a very small Spa and I really like the flow of the track activity.”