![Tiago Monteiro, Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team [JAS Motorsport], Honda Civic WTCC](https://www.touringcars.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Monteiro_Race2_Ita_1.jpg "Photo: WTCC Media")
Tiago Monteiro recovered from a traffic affected qualifying session to recover a brace of top ten finishes from the opening two races of the 2013 World Touring Car Championship at Monza.
Having finished outside the top 12 in qualifying, the Portuguese driver brought home the #18 Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team Honda Civic in 5th and 8th position, results which leaves him sixth in the drivers’ Championship.
“Given the circumstances, we knew that the task would be difficult, but I managed to make up lost ground in qualifying to reach the finish in fifth and eighth positions. These two results are important and allow us to score valuable points from the opening round of the championship. It is a happy ending to a weekend that got off to such a difficult start yesterday,” explains Monteiro.
Despite the double top eight finish in Italy and the first podium of the season for team-mate Gabriele Tarquini in the second race, Monteiro admits that the JAS Motorsport team still have a long way to go before they reach the full potential of the car.
“We know that we must work hard because our opponents are very strong,” adds Monteiro.
“The chassis of the Honda Civic is pretty good but we need to double our efforts and make a more powerful engine. The importance of this first round was to determine where we stand after winter testing so we could know which area to focus on. Tonight we know what they are,” concludes the Portuguese racer.