Honda’s Norbert Michelisz is looking forward to this weekend’s World Touring Car Championship races on the streets of Macau, where he is hoping to be able to replicate his maiden WTCC win in 2010.
Michelisz is embroiled in the fight for the drivers’ championship, with the Hungarian carrying Hondas hopes after the demise of team-mate Tiago Monteiro’s campaign due to injury.
The 2010 Guia race winner is 16.5 points behind points leader Thed Björk, but he believes that he can keep the pressure on the Volvo driver in the final Asian races of the season before the season finale in Qatar in early December.
“I’m so pleased to have Macau back on the calendar as it’s one of my favourite tracks and because I scored my first WTCC win in 2010,” said Michelisz.
“This weekend is a crucial one because while I’m right in the middle of the championship battle, I still have to keep reducing the points gap to the leader to make sure I still have a chance in Qatar.”
Last time the WTCC raced in Macau in 2014 Michelisz stood on the podium with second in the first race, and combined with his previous victory early in his career he heads into the weekend with confidence.
“Macau is a tough circuit where one mistake can cause a disaster, so we must put pressure on our rivals and stay strong ourselves.
“I’m confident that the improvements the team have made to the Civic since the summer will put us in a strong position this weekend.”