Tiago Monteiro is top 5 in Monza

The first two races of the 9th edition of the Word Touring Car Championship, WTCC, took place today at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza where both events took place in the pouring rain.

Despite the adverse weather conditions and starting 14th on the grid, Tiago Monteiro completed two monumental races where he finished 5th and 8th.

Tiago Monteiro, Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team Honda Civic

Photo by: XPB Images

"Given the circumstances, we knew that the task would be difficult, but I managed to make up lost ground in qualifying to reach the finish in fifth and eighth positions.

These two results are important and allow us to score valuable points from the opening round of the championship. It is a happy ending to a weekend that got off to such a difficult start yesterday," said Monteiro.

The driver of the Honda Civic # 18 was the author of some remarkable overtaking, particularly in the Lesmo curve and the daunting Parabolica. He now sits in sixth place in the championship on 14 points.

Despite the positive result this weekend, Tiago knows that there is still a long way to go before the new Honda Civic reaches its highest level.

"We know that we must work hard because our opponents are very strong," admits Tiago Monteiro, "The chassis of the Honda Civic is pretty good but we need to double our efforts and make a more powerful engine.

The importance of this first round was to determine where we stand after winter testing so we could know which area to focus on. Tonight we know what they are," concludes Tiago congratulating the team and his team mate Gabriele Tarquini, on their first podium of the season. "Congratulations to the team and Gabriele! It was an intense weekend for everyone and it ended well."

The next round of the FIA WTCC will take place on the 6th and 7th of April in Morocco.

Tiago Monteiro