Pace of heavy WTCC Hondas cheers Michelisz

Norbert Michelisz says Honda carrying 60 kilograms of compensation weight makes his team-mate Tiago Monteiro’s victory at FIA WTCC Race of Portugal all the sweeter.

All five Hondas in action in Vila Real were carrying more weight than they had done all season under rules designed to equalise performance.

Despite the potential handicap, the Japanese make enjoyed one of its strongest weekends of 2016 with Monteiro winning the Main Race from the DHL pole position and Michelsiz joining him on the podium in third.

“I’m pleased with another podium finish, my sixth of the season, and it shows that the team has done a fantastic job to be able to achieve the results we have had this weekend even with 60kg of ballast,” said Hungarian Michelisz. “We knew that with this amount of ballast it’s not going to be easy but we also knew that on a street circuit and on a track like Vila Real, many things can happen and I think we show again that we did huge progress from the last season. I’m really proud of everyone involved because I think for the rest of the season we can aim for much more pole positions and Main Race victories.”