Tiago Monteiro says he is ‘comforted’ to be leading the World Touring Car Championship heading to Argentina for this weekend’s races, where the Portuguese racer has a consistent record.
Monteiro heads to South America with a four-point advantage over Polestar’s Thed Björk, having taken two victories in the first half of the 2017 season.
Now Monteiro heads to the Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo for this weekend’s action, where his best result since first taking on the circuit in 2013 was a third-place finish achieved in 2015.
Monteiro has a solid points-scoring record at the circuit near Santiago del Estewro, having never finished outside the points in his eight races there to-date.
“It is comforting to see that we are in the lead of the championship at this stage,” said Monteiro, “but we also know that in mid-championship the title has not been played out.
“It is therefore important not to give points to our opponents and to work hard on developing the car. The aim of this weekend is to consolidate our position and this can only be achieved with good results.
“It is a track that I appreciate and where things have gone well for me in the past and that increases my confidence.
“I like the circuit at Termas de Río Hondo and I’ve finished in the top six in seven of the eight WTCC races held there, so I’m heading in high on confidence to score a big haul of points and strengthen my position in the championship.”
Monteiro believes he is one of the favourites in the races in Argentina, and he is looking to leave the country with an extended lead to take into the late-summer break before the next round of the championship in China in mid-October.
“I know we are one of the favourites, but that on its own is not enough, we have to prove ourselves out on the track. This is my intention in Argentina because I want to go on summer vacation and the three month break with less pressure.”