Tiago Monteiro happy to settle “unfinished business” with Macau

Tiago Monteiro won the Guia Race by finishing the second TCR International Series ahead of Leopard Racing’s Jean-Karl Vernay and Craft-Bamboo’s Pepe Oriola. The Honda driver felt he had unfinished business with Macau, and is glad to finally have won around the streets of the former Portuguese colony.

“I felt like I had some unfinished business with Macau, so finally I won the Guia race!”, said the Portuguese to TouringCarTimes. “I came here several times, sometimes I was not in a position to win, but then two years ago I had a power steering issue and that prevented me from winning, very frustrating.”

Monteiro admits the race was particularly weird, but believes it is in the nature of the Circuito da Guia: “It was very good for me, it was a bit of a weird race but Macau is like that, anything can happen. Of course I would have preferred to win it by fighting for the entire ten laps, but then again it’s Macau, and it’s all about keeping the pressure at bay and concentrate until the end, like an endurance race.”

Monteiro also praised the Honda Civic TCR, which is very different from the Civic WTCC he normally drives.

“It’s obviously very different from what I’m used to driving, but it’s a very good car. It’s very efficient, quick and fun to drive. It’s surely not easier, you need to drive differently. I still haven’t understood it completely, because we didn’t do enough laps, but I love this track and this car.”