Tiago Monteiro remains with Honda in the 2017 FIA WTCC partnering Norbert Michelisz and Ryo Michigami

Tiago Monteiro is about to begin his sixth season together with Honda in the FIA World Touring Car Championship, WTCC, the first action packed race weekend of the new season scheduled to take place from 7 to 9 April in Morocco. Like last year, the Portuguese driver will have Hungarian racer Norbert Michelisz as a team-mate as well as a newcomer to the Honda and JAS Motorsport line up, Japanese driver Ryo Michigami.

The international trio will be behind the wheel of the improved Honda Civic which has benefited from some recent developments.

After a remarkable 2016 season – the best of his career in the FIA WTCC – seeing him record two wins and seven pole positions as well as fighting for the world title before finally finishing third, Tiago is proud to express his ambitions for the upcoming 2017 season. “It is a great privilege to continue being at the heart of the Honda project in the FIA WTCC and I am very excited about the upcoming season. I joined the team in 2012 and in 2016 we were able to fight for the world title, which continues to be a major goal for Honda and myself. The Honda Civic had never been as powerful as it was in 2016 and the team continued on with this good dynamic to optimize the car during the winter. I think we are on the right track, the one that will allow us to cement our common ambition: the world title,” Tiago said.

Tiago will team up with the fast and experienced Norbert Michelisz, who will line up in FIA WTCC for the 10th consecutive year. Meanwhile, Ryo Michigami, who completed two races at the wheel of the Honda Civic in 2016, is one of the loyal drivers in the Honda family and has already had numerous successes with the manufacturer of the rising sun. “Norbert is a great driver and I think our collaboration with him will be even more effective. Regarding Ryo, who is now joining the Honda family in the FIA WTCC, I wish him all the happiness in the world with this fantastic team and I am convinced that his experience will help him become familiar with the team and the championship quite quickly. Together with Norbert and Ryo, we will give our best for the good of the team to help achieve our world title goal,” concluded Tiago.