This coming weekend Tiago Monteiro will once again embark on a new challenge. Indeed, after having raced on the Boavista and Estoril circuits, the SEAT driver will now defend his national colors at the International Autodromo of Algarve on what will be the FIA World Touring Car Championship’s first visit to Portimão.
The fifth round of the WTCC promises to offer two splendid races disputed on one of the most modern circuits in the world, one of a high quality that all the drivers can attest to. In such a competitive championship, Tiago Monteiro stresses that the support from the public will be a boost but also notes that some teams have already gathered data from the Algarve circuit.
"We know that some teams already have experience of Portimao and that could give us a few hard times in order to be on par with them in the quickest amount of time. There is also the ballast issue, which will once again be at the maximum for us while the BMWs will be 20kg lighter. But for me, the most important thing is to race at home. Even though my roots are in Oporto I have strong relationships with Algarve, not only for leisure but also on a professional level. I feel at home here, just like in Estoril where I won a race in the WTCC two years ago. I enjoyed a fabulous welcome on the circuit of Boavista and I’m sure I will have the same in Algarve," Tiago says.
The SEAT León TDI #3 driver is currently 5th in the drivers’ championship thanks to some very good performances on the Zolder circuit two weeks ago, where he secured 3rd and 4th places in the two Belgian races. Tiago is keen to continue his fight with the front runners and he knows that it is vital to regularly secure points in a championship where reliability is a key factor to success.
"I like the International Autodromo of Algarve because it is a technical track which gathers the characteristics of several other emblematic circuits. I think it will put on a great show; the track is wide and it should help with overtaking as well as preventing chaos at the start, even if the first turn should always be a level-headed area," warns Tiago.
The WTCC is the only FIA championship to visit Portugal and it should produce some very competitive races from the first to the last lap and has all the ingredients of a spectacle not to be missed. The World Touring Car Championship could not find a better destination than Algarve which is also a high area of tourism.
Algarve is the land of the sun and the FIA WTCC paddock will be able to count on temperatures of around 25°C. Qualifying will take place on Saturday July 3 at 17:30 with the races on Sunday at 12:05 and 16:50.