Ignacio Montenegro: “I must learn to handle the pressure”

GOAT Racing driver Ignacio Montenegro scored his first podium finish with third place in the final FIA TCR World Tour race of the weekend in Vila Real, a position he was unhappy with after starting from pole position.

“I’m not so happy, we knew we were the favourites for the victory and I didn’t make the most of the opportunity,” Montenengro told TouringCarTimes.

“This is something that I will take advantage now during the summer to work on myself, on the psychological aspect, as a key here was the start.

“The same thing happened in Monza, where I started from the front row and I didn’t manage the pressure well, and this is something I must improve in order to be a great driver, at the level I need to be to take the team to the maximum performance. I cannot make these mistakes but I must learn from this error and keep the head high, now I have some time to work on myself.”

Montenegro made his FIA TCR World Tour debut this year, having jumped to the international scene a year ago in the TCR Europe.

“Without a doubt, I have evolved a lot as a person and a driver being here in the World Tour, with very strong team-mates. Esteban (Guerrieri) is very experienced and also Pepe (Oriola) as a team-manager, so we all push each other,” said Montenegro.

“It’s only my third year with these cars but that doesn’t take away from the fact that I have to improve and move forward.”

Part of the Argentinian’s learning curve includes the circuits of the World Tour, most of them are new to him.

“From this season I only knew Valencia, the rest are new. Thankfully learning tracks is not a problem, but we must work in other points,” said Montenegro.