After stepping down from the podium at the Slovakia Ring just a few days ago, Tiago Monteiro is preparing for the fourth round of the 2013 FIA World Touring Car Championship, WTCC, that will take place in Budapest on the 4th and 5th of May. Motivation is still strong for the Portuguese driver and he is aiming to maintain the same successful momentum experienced in Slovakia with another positive result in Hungary.
For the third consecutive year, the FIA WTCC will take place at the spectacular Hungaroring circuit which has hosted the Formula One Championship for almost a quarter of a century. Demanding and highly technical, the circuit is well suited to the qualities of the Honda Civic. However, Tiago will be running with a handicap this weekend as an additional 30kg will be added to the car a result of Honda’s excellent results in Slovakia, when they recorded a 1-2-3 finish in the first race. "Of course the team’s performance in Slovakia has increased our confidence," said Monteiro, "We are aware of taking a big step in the car’s evolution, but we must not rest on our laurels. 30kg ballast will have a definite impact on our overall competitiveness but it is impossible to judge what our performance loss will be before the first runs."
Regardless of this Tiago Monteiro has complete confidence in JAS Motorsport Honda to challenge at the Hungaroring. "Despite this handicap, the Hungaroring is a track that suits the qualities of our car and I think that we can extract the full potential of the Honda Civic," assured Tiago, "We will take advantage of free practice to make the necessary adjustments. Our goal is to score the most amount of points in both races. Finishing on the podium again would be a great result."