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Monteiro: “Yvan Muller will be our strongest competitor”

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Tiago Monteiro believes that Yvan Muller will be Honda’s biggest threat as the Japanese marque enters the 2013 WTCC with the goal of winning the Championship.

The Portuguese driver joined Honda for the final three rounds of 2012, and now enters this year as a full works driver for the first time since 2009, alongside his former SEAT team-mate Gabriele Tarquini.

“We hope we will be able to fight for the championship, that’s the goal of a manufacturer, they’re here to win,” said Monteiro to TouringCarTimes.

“The question is when. The car is very new, everything is just starting, we don’t know if it will happen next week, in a few months or in years.”

Monteiro talked about the difference between racing as a privateer and for a manufacturer:
“It’s a big difference for me between now and the last two years, when I was in a privateer team in very difficult conditions. Now we’re back in a strong position. We know we have a lot to do, we have to evolve and to learn but I’m here very motivated and willing to work.”

The Portuguese driver said he would probably bet on Yvan Muller for the title this year:
“I think Yvan Muller will be our strongest competitor. He’s in the same team, in the same car, with the same mechanics, only the name of it has changed, so he’s definitely the car to beat.”

Monteiro also talked about World Champion Rob Huff’s choice of entering the World Touring Car Championship with an independent team:

“I think that at least on paper he’s in a better situation compared to Gabriele and me in the past, because he’s in a strong team, with a strong budget and the support from SEAT Sport, so they are still strong. He has the same car as Gabriele last year with an updated engine, so he will still be strong, but if you ask me who’s the favourite then I will say Yvan, but Rob is not far away.

“Rob has done the right thing, when you don’t have a manufacturer seat you have to look for the best privateer team, and he has a good a good chance of winning. I don’t know about the title, but for sure he will be competitive. I’m glad he stayed.”

Monteiro also commented on his surprise podium at Macau, last year’s season finale:
“Last year Macau suited our car a lot and I was able to get on the podium. It’s a very good chassis and good mechanics, and by the way the car is it will probably be difficult here and in America, which is part of the game. We think we have a good car, after seven months of work on the project, and we have a good basis for a car which we will develop.”