Norbert Michelisz is aiming to keep the momentum going into the 2017 World Touring Car Championship season, after it was confirmed that the Hungarian would remain with the factory Honda team for another season.
Michelisz enters his second season in the WTCC as a works driver, and his eighth full season overall, looking to continue the momentum that saw him finish fourth overall in the 2016 drivers’ standings.
The 32-year-old scored a memorable win on Honda’s home soil last year, taking victory in the Opening Race at the Twin Ring Motegi.
It was this tailwind in the second half of the year that helped him to finish fourth in the standings, just one point behind team-mate Tiago Monteiro.
“I’m very happy to be racing with Honda again in 2017,” said Michelisz, who is entering his fifth season at the wheel of a Civic. “My first year in a factory team was a bit of an eye-opener, but by the second half of the season we developed some strong momentum and made the most of our pace in qualifying and I was very proud to win at Honda’s home race in Japan.
“I’m confident that I have the car and team to help me achieve my goal of becoming World Champion and that I’ve now reached the level I need to be at personally to make this happen.
“With Tiago and Ryo alongside me in the team, I think our performances will be very strong across the whole season.”
With Citroën having left the sport as a works team, and Michelisz entering the season off the back of his own best-ever season, it gives him arguably his best shot at claiming the overall title.