Tiago Monteiro heads into the ninth round of the 2012 World Touring Car Championship at the Sonoma Raceway, looking to sign his career off with SEAT on a high note.
The maiden WTCC Race of the USA at the Sonoma Raceway in California marks the final event for the Portuguese racer at the wheel of a SEAT Leon as he joins the brand new Honda team for the final three events of 2012 before a full campaign in 2013.
Monteiro, along with Gabriele Tarquini and James Nash have already been to the circuit as guests of the race promoter in June, when the NASCAR series visited California. The World Touring Car Championship will be racing on the longer configuration compared to the variant used for the NASCAR weekend.
“The track configuration will not be the same as the one we discovered in June so it will be new for everyone. I’m sure it will be a weekend of celebration and that the fans will be able can toast the championship the best way possible. I am very pleased to be participating in these two races, completing a cycle that has been a big part of my career,” explains Monteiro.
The American weekend is one which the #18 SEAT Tuenti Racing driver has been looking forward to and despite it being his final event for SEAT; he has approached it with his normal professional approach.
“This is a very special weekend, not only because it will be my final two races with SEAT, but also because this is the first time the FIA WTCC will visit the United States, a country where I’ve raced and one I particularly like,” continued Monteiro.
In his five years with SEAT, Monteiro has secured four race victories and a best Championship position of 5th. He leaves SEAT with some special memories and his ambitions to go out on a high will be tough due to the ballast on board of his SunRed SR Leon 1.6T car.
“In the sporting term, I cannot achieve big goals because my SEAT will be heavier than the others and I have to be realistic,” Monteiro admits.
“Getting into the points will be an almost impossible mission so my concern will be to treat the public to a good show for the debut of the FIA WTCC in the United States, and so to give a good brand image which I have always supported in the best possible way,” concludes the 36 Year old.