Tiago Monteiro is optimistic for the forthcoming World Touring Car Championship season, with Honda having trialled out several new parts and settings in testing.
Monteiro enters his fifth full season with Honda in 2017, off the back of having enjoyed his best-ever WTCC season in 2016.
The JAS Motorsport Honda team have recently been preparing for the forthcoming season by testing at the circuit Motorland Aragón in eastern Spain.
The tests have given Monteiro additional optimism for the coming season, which will see Honda as one of the favourites for the overall title.
“It’s looking positive,” said Monteiro. “We have a lot of new things on the car, both aerodynamic and engine-wise and all the hard work that has been done over the winter looks great in terms of numbers. Now we have more testing before the first race so things will come bit by bit to the car.”
Monteiro was also helping new Honda signing Ryo Michigami to acclimatise to the car and team, with the 43-year-old joining for a first full WTCC campaign in 2017 after Rob Huff left to join Münnich Motorsport.
“It’s new but it’s not that new [working with Michigami], because we already know Ryo from last year when he did some testing and a race with us,” added Monteiro. “Because it was not a race weekend it doesn’t seem that different so far.
“We’re here to help him to be up to speed. He has the talent and the experience. He just needs to learn this car, which is very different to what he’s used to. He’s proven he can learn fast and be up to date.”
Monteiro believes that with Citroën now out of the title battle as a manufacturer, his biggest challengers in 2017 will come both within his own team, from former team-mate Huff and from the Volvo camp.
“Of course Norbi [Michelisz] will be probably my main competitor in the same team, same car and he can fight for the world championship. But I have no doubt Rob in the Citroën will be a very strong competitor. Even if it’s not a works team the car is still faster than us at the moment. He has the material upper hand, no doubt about it.
“I don’t discount Volvo because they have been really coming back strong. They’ve worked hard and I know they’re signing some good drivers. They are reinforcing the whole team. I cannot say how they have been testing, but I am sure they will be a strong competitor.
“Right now, I will say Rob and Norbi will be my main competitors, but let’s not forget Volvo.”