At the wheel of the Honda Civic for the last three days at the Spanish circuit, Tiago clocked up hundreds of kilometers behind the wheel of his machine as he tested various solutions delivered by Honda.
"It was the first major test after the end of the season and many others will follow in the coming months. The team is focused on making the most of the pre-season to work on the new car for the 2015 championship. We focused on various aspects of the car and not any one thing specifically. It was very productive and we were left with the feeling that this was the first small step towards a successful season," said the Portuguese driver.
The next four-day test will take place from the 15th to the 18th of December at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit.
Happy to return to racing in Portugal
Confirmation that the FIA World Touring Car Championship, WTCC, will return to Portugal, namely one the Vila Real circuit, in July 2015 has made Tiago Monteiro, the only Portuguese representative in the series, extremely satisfied.
"I am delighted that the Municipality of Vila Real, Eurosport Events, the WTCC and FPAK have agreed to this. I have noticed that the people involved were very motivated to make this event a reality on the WTCC calendar. They should all be congratulated for their efforts. For me it's always very special to race in Portugal, to have the support of the Portuguese public, but above all to be able to have my friends and family around," Tiago explained.
Tiago Monteiro was in Vila Real recently where he had the opportunity to see up close what will be awaiting him next July... "I have never raced in Vila Real, but it is curious that the first racing I ever saw live was in Vila Real when I was a child. I have a lot of family in the area of Tras-os-Montes and I can remember that time perfectly. After seeing the circuit I realized why it is in the imagination of so many people. It is an unusual track and very demanding and I have no doubt it will be a festive weekend," said the Portuguese driver who is already preparing the 2015 season and hoping that Vila Real will deliver a repeat of the podium finishes that the public are accustomed to seeing when he races at 'home'.
