Photo: Jacques Letihon Photographe

Tiago Monteiro dropped to 11th at Zandvoort following penalty

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Tiago Monteiro has lost his sixth place result from Race 2 at Zandvoort following a 30-second penalty handed down by the stewards for being out of position at the rolling start, dropping him out of the points.

The Portuguese driver started Race 1 from pole position in the Boutsen Ginion Honda Civic, but a disconnected turbo pipe saw him immediately lose power and drop to the back, allowing team-mate Norbert Michelisz an easy path to victory.

The team resolved the issue during the race and he rejoined the field for Race 2, working his way from 14th to sixth at the finish, but was given a 30-second penalty post-race for being out of position at the rolling start.

“We could have had a win at least, the car could do it and when I started on pole position I was hoping I could hold it,” said Monteiro to TouringCarTimes. “It was a shame we had a turbo issue at the start (of Race 1). I knew what it was and I knew it was a fast fix, but this time the #13 didn’t bring me luck.

“(After that) We focussed on the second race. I waited in the pits after everything was repaired and then went to the back of the grid and started from there,” he added, speaking before the stewards’ penalty. “The second race was exciting for me, fighting every lap. However, the objective of this weekend was to bring Michel Vaillant back to the track and enjoy the time with my friend (Jean-Louis Dauger), who invited me here and I’m very happy to have had this race with him.”

Although not in the championship hunt as Monteiro will not compete in the full TCR Benelux series season, the WTCC driver now drops to third in the drivers’ standings following his penalty, two points behind the Delahaye Racing pair of Alexis van de Poele and Romain de Leval, and 70 points behind his former co-driver and current team-mate Stéphane Lémeret.

The #13 car will be driven by Jean-Louis Dauger for the third and fourth races on Sunday, starting Race 3 from 14th on the grid courtesy of the Frenchman’s fastest time set during Friday’s qualifying race.