Chevrolet Cruze racer Alex MacDowall says hell be going on the offensive when the FIA World Touring Car Championship visits the Porto street circuit in Portugal next weekend, 29th/30th June, as the second half of the 2013 season gets underway.Marking the Carlisle 22-year-olds first ever experience of the 4.8-kilometre Circuito da Boavista, the WTCC front-runner is determined to get his Yokohama Independents Trophy title campaign back on track during rounds 13 and 14 after a very trying weekend in Russia a fortnight ago.Despite major issues with grip throughout the previous event at Moscow Raceway, Alex was still able to secure a brace of top five Independents Trophy finishes to maintain third position in the class standings. In the overall WTCC title race, he will arrive in Portugal in ninth place.Although Portos challenging street circuit, which winds its way through the Boavista district of the city and features on the WTCC calendar every two years, is another fresh track for Alex to learn and adjust to, he is aiming for a return to the Independents podium at the very least.I think well do a lot better in Porto than we did in Russia, said the Bamboo Engineering driver, It was a one, two, three for the works Chevys last time the WTCC visited the track so were confident the car will go well there. Ill have a go on the simulator just to get an idea of where the track goes and how it feels, you never properly know how itll all turn out until you get there though.Russia was really disappointing but we learnt a lot from the experience. Its definitely made me more determined to do well in Porto and get back to where we should be, we really need to start a bit of an all-out attack and properly go for it.So far this season, Alexs second in the WTCC, he has chalked up an impressive tally of two victories in the Yokohama Independents Trophy and seven class podiums. He has also secured a pair of outright WTCC podiums and is hungry to add more as the second half of the season gets underway.Theres still a long way to go in the championship but were already halfway, he added, Theres a lot to be said for consistency but, before you know it, the end of the season will be here. Weve got to really try and attack now each weekend and get on the podium as many times as we can.Following free practice in Porto on Saturday, 29th June, qualifying for rounds 13 and 14 of the FIA World Touring Car Championship will get underway at 14.00. On Sunday, 30th June, the first race of the weekend will begin at 11.20 with the second race scheduled to start at 17.05. Live coverage of qualifying and rounds 13 and 14 is expected to be carried on the British Eurosport network.

2013 FIA World Touring Car Championship Driver Standings (after Rd12):9th Alex MacDowall, 73pts2013 FIA WTCC Yokohama Independents Trophy Driver Standings (after Rd12):3rd Alex MacDowall, 74pts

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