Esteban Guerrieri impresses as Tiago Monteiro’s deputy in Japan

Esteban Guerrieri completed a successful debut with the Honda Racing Team JAS at Motegi, managing a podium in the opening race and a fourth position in the main race, scoring vital points for the team and taking some away from Polestar Cyan Racing.

The Argentinian was drafted in from Campos Racing just earlier this week to replace the recovering Tiago Monteiro for the Japanese round. Guerrieri’s competing for the first time for a works team in the WTCC, also taking part in his first ever MAC3 time trial after qualifying.

“I’m very happy with how my debut weekend for Honda has gone, and especially to take a podium finish after a very tough battle with Thed Björk in the opening race,” said Guerrieri. “We had a nice battle, side-by-side, but then I got ahead of him on the outside at Turn 8, he didn’t want to lift, got on the kerb and came into me and put me at 90 degrees to the track.”

After Guerrieri scored his second win of the season in China two weeks’ ago, further catching the attention of Honda, who needed a replacement for Tiago Monteiro with Gabriele Tarquini busy racing at Adria in TCR Europe. With Tarquini still unavailable for the next round at Macau, the Argentinian is now a clear favourite to deputise for Monteiro, should the Portuguese driver still be unable to return.

“I’m happy with the performance I’ve put in this weekend and if Honda need me again in the future, I’d love to do some more with them,” added Guerrieri.

Team principal Alessandro Mariani praised his new recruit, hailing the importance of Guerrieri’s performance in view of the exclusion from the results at Ningbo.

“Esteban did a fantastic job on his first weekend with us and took a very important podium despite being hit many times by Thed Björk in the opening race. The target this weekend was to reduce the gap in the championship and we have done this. It’s a good way to finish a tough week.”