Photo: WTCC Media

Tiago Monteiro looking ahead to home race

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After a troubled first run with the new turbocharged SUNRED engine at Brno, Monteiro is hoping for better results at his home round this weekend in Porto.

The street circuit in the Boavista district of Porto will hold its third FIA World Touring Car Championship event this weekend, with the first back in 2007.

A good crowd is expected to support their local driver, former Formula 1 driver Tiago Monteiro in the SUNRED Engineering SR León 1.6T.

“This race is very important to Portuguese motorsport, and therefore it is essential to make this weekend a success,” said Monteiro.

“It would be wonderful for me to feel the support of the Portuguese audience.”

Monteiro had been as high as fourth in the drivers championship this year whilst competing with the ageing SEAT 2.0 litre turbo-diesel engine for the first few rounds. Monteiro’s team-mates Michel Nykjaer, Pepe Oriola & Fredy Barth tried out SUNRED’s new 1.6 litre turbo engine at the Hungaroring, with Monteiro and Gabriele Tarquini getting their hands on it at Brno, but for Monteiro, a misfire hampered his weekend.

“Unfortunately, the 1.6 litre turbo engine developed by the team is still very young and has not yet reached its peak,” said Monteiro.

“So I know that I will have to get ready for a tough weekend despite my motivation, which is increased ten-fold by getting to race in front of my fans. The main objective will be to secure the most points I can.”

The biggest benefit all of the SUNRED drivers will have this weekend is the shifting of the two race meeting ‘new car’ ballast that they have been carrying. The SR León 1.6T carried 40kg above its base weight at Hungary and the Czech Republic, but from this weekend will now be allowed to remove 60kg from the car after the latest compensation ballast calculations.

Monteiro is also positive of a number of changes to the track, where he is yet to take a victory, despite winning in front of his home crowd in 2008 at Estoril and last year at Portimão.

“Several changes have been made to the track and I think that they are for safety but also for the entertainment factor. The new version of the circuit looks to me to be better than in previous years, with more overtaking opportunities.”