Tiago Monteiro will line up eleventh on the grid for rounds three and four of the 2012 World Touring Car Championship, at the wheel of the SUNRED 1.6litre turbocharged SEAT Leon, after the team opted to swap from the 2.0litre turbo diesel engine that he used in Italy.
Away from the change in engine, Monteiro is also sporting a new livery to his race car for the Spanish weekend. Monteiro, who has normally raced in a yellow SEAT Leon, has switched to a white livery, and he explains the reasons for the switch.
“For several years, yellow predominated, and we decided to change the livery to mark the entry into a new era,” Tiago Monteiro declared, “I am also taking the opportunity to refresh the decoration on my helmet. I think the result is very satisfactory. I hope that this new livery will coincide with a new crop of success.”
Out on the track, Monteiro finished the second stage of qualifying just outside the top ten and thus lines up on the inside of the sixth row, but within two tenths of the fourth row. His best time of the session came on his first run, and was unable to improve during his second attempt.
“If we keep in mind that we are talking about an engine that was not upgraded since last year, I can be content with the result,” explains the Portuguese driver, who won at the circuit in 2010.
“For various reasons, we came to the conclusion that it was the best option for this race and despite the doubts we had at the beginning about our ability to get into the top 12 in the first qualifying session, because our teammates are using the 2012 SEAT engine, we managed.”
For Monteiro, the first few weekends are a test of patience for him while he waits for the SEAT Sport 1.6T engine to be fitted to his SEAT Leon.
“I was aware of this reality and I am concentrating on doing the best with the equipment I have available to me,” said Monteiro, who heads into the Valencia races looking to open his point scoring account for the season.
“I think that at the end of the day, this result is positive. Now I just have to battle it out in two races and move up a few positions in order to secure points. It’s a job that is made more complicated when you are starting from the middle of the pack, but I am confident.”