Honda’s Tiago Monteiro admits that his JAS Motorsport team ‘can see the results’ of recent improvements over the Winter, but the team remain frustrated after being unable to match the Citroëns in qualifying for the World Touring Car Championship in Argentina.
Monteiro was the manufacturer’s best qualifier, ending up fourth on the grid for race one. However the Portuguese’s lap time was more than two seconds off the pole position time after he made a mistake on his only Q3 run. Previously Monteiro had been between 0.4 and 0.7 seconds off the pace in the Q1 and Q2 segments.
“We can see the results of the hard work but we have more to do,” admitted Monteiro. “I could have had a better result from Q3 but it just didn’t flow for me. I was trying hard to find the right tyre pressures to make the Civic handle perfectly but we didn’t quite get it right. But I’m happy to start the season in Q3 and we can look forward to a strong race tomorrow.”
Monteiro’s works’ Honda team-mate Gabriele Tarquini had been slower than the former F1 driver throughout the day, qualifying in seventh in Q2 having earlier been eighth fastest in Q1.
“I could not get a good pace just like last year,” said the Italian. “I made a mistake in Q1 and then the red flag in Q2 changed our strategy. But I know Tiago is ahead so I will be pushing him hard so together we can try for a podium in Race 1. I’m on the second row for Race 2 so I have a chance if everything works for me.”
JAS Managing Director Alessandro Mariani echoed Monteiro’s comments, saying the team have the outright pace to challenge for better positions than they achieved.
“To be honest I’m a bit frustrated,” said Mariani. “We had the pace but did not meet our targets. In Q2 the red flag forced us to change the plan and in Q3 Tiago had a difficult lap with tyre pressures.
“But I can see that we have taken a big step closer to the competition and much improved over 2014. We have more new parts coming soon which will continue our challenge.
“I’m a racer and would prefer our cars in 1st and 2nd place but our winter changes are proving positive and I hope we can demonstrate this tomorrow.”
Honda’s Large Project Leader for WTCC Development Daisuke Horiuchi confirmed that the manufacturer has made improvements in the engine department, with straight-line speed now on a par with Citroën, adding: “Our straight line speed is equal to the competition and that is the result of engine power. We now have to improve our qualifying performance.”
The first two races of the season take place at 15:15 and 16:30 ART (18:15 and 19:30 GMT; 19:15 and 20:30 CET).