Honda has revealed it will field an unchanged driver line-up for the 2021 FIA World Touring Car Cup, retaining Esteban Guerrieri, Néstor Girolami, Tiago Monteiro and Attila Tassi for the forthcoming season.
It marks the third successive season with the quartet of drivers for Honda, which is banking on consistency in helping it to secure the overall drivers’ title.
The teams which the drivers will race for will be revealed in due course.
Guerrieri finished the 2020 season as the best-ranked driver for the Japanese manufacturer, with the Argentine ending the year in fourth, claiming four race victories and remaining in title contention until the final event of the year.
“Extending this relationship with Honda is a fantastic feeling, particularly after another strong campaign in 2020 despite all the challenges the year presented,” said Guerrieri, entering into his fourth full season with Honda.
“Globally we hope that things will be very different in 2021 compared to last year, but one thing that we hope will stay the same is our competitiveness.
“We have proved every season so far that we are capable of fighting for the title, so naturally feel that we can push for it again in 2021.”
Girolami was the next-best driver for the brand last year, winning the season opener but then enduring misfortune at the Slovakiaring as he claimed tenth in the drivers’ standings.
“There were ups and downs for me in the 2020 WTCR season but overall it was a solid year and I’m pleased with the competitive level I was able to show at every round,” said Girolami.
“Winning the first race of the season and setting a new pole position record at the Nürburgring were two big highlights and show I can be the pacesetter.
“I start my third year as a Honda Racing driver as sure as ever that I can fight for the championship.”
Monteiro enters into his tenth season as a factory Honda driver after ending last year in 15th in the standings, the Portuguese only once reaching the podium with second at the Hungaroring.
“I’m absolutely delighted to be continuing my relationship with Honda into what will be a tenth year,” said Monteiro.
“It’s the longest I’ve driven for a brand in my career and this milestone proves what a great relationship we have built over that period.
“Last year was a very challenging year, but challenges are part of this sport and we rose up to face and overcome them.
“Those harder moments only served as motivation to add more success this season as part of this incredibly strong Honda Racing line-up.”
At 21, Tassi is the youngest driver in the line-up once again, and the Hungarian will be looking to improve on his classification of 12th overall he achieved last year, including two early-season podium finishes at Zolder and the Nürburgring.
“It is a great pleasure to be a Honda Racing driver in the WTCR for a third year in a row,” said Tassi. “I’m proud of the potential Honda sees in me.
“I was happy with the progress I made in 2020, scoring my first podiums, and with how I gelled with those around me.
“For 2021, I hope I can take another big step forward and show the frontrunning pace I was able to display on an even more regular basis.”