After a seven-year break, the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) will resume the 2012 season next weekend in Curitiba, Brazil, for the 15th and 16th races of the calendar.

 Used to visiting Brazil in the heat of the summer, drivers and teams will have to redouble their efforts this year to adapt their cars to winter, in the country's sixth largest city. Despite the uncertainty reigning over the weather conditions, Tiago Monteiro is keeping up his optimism. "It's good to return to competition after such a long break," acknowledged the SEAT Leon 1.6 Turbo driver. "Even though I like the layout of this fast, technical circuit, that might not be enough to achieve our objectives. It may be cold in Curitiba and in this case it would be beneficial to us because our tyres wouldn't overheat. I am motivated and I have every confidence in the team's work."

Adding points to the championships for his personal good and the good of the team is the watchword for Tiago Monteiro. "I want to do the best I can, and that involves a good spot on the starting grid. This is always a difficult task, but the possibility of securing points depends on it. I am convinced we can do it."

The Curitiba races can be followed on Eurosport, Sunday July 22 starting at 6:45 p.m.