Tiago Monteiro to make an exciting come back in Valencia

Before flying to Asia for the two finales in Japan and Macao, the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) will contest its final races, rounds 17 and 18, of the season in Europe, this coming weekend on the Ricardo Tormo circuit, in Valencia (Spain). Tiago Monteiro has good memories of the 4.5 km (Same thing just better put in English) long layout, which he overcome so well last year that it resulted in a strong qualifying result (4th) and a second place on the podium in race one.

With an amphitheatre configuration, the Ricardo Tormo circuit is traditionally the venue of many fans who vibrate with the sound of the FIA WTCC racing cars. In Spain, Tiago hopes to obtain two results that will reflect on his potential and that of his León TDI so that he will be able to continue to assist SEAT Sport together with Sr-Sport to ensure a strong position in the drivers and manufacturers championships. However, the native of Oporto stresses that despite his past success in Valencia, the 2010 scenario could be very different... "You can’t make any predictions in this championship and that’s its beauty. In 2009, we thought it was a great track but it had already happened in the past that it suited our rivals better," reminded Tiago. "Obviously I’d like a 2009-like scenario because it would be the best way to say goodbye to Europe before racing in Japan and Macau. The three car manufacturers are very competitive and very close and nobody can rest on its laurels. The last straight of the championship will be very interesting and as for us, we know that we will have to use each and every inch of the track to compensate the effect of the weight we have onboard the SEAT León TDI."

In Valencia, SEAT and Sr-Sport will have a ballast of 40kg, but the Portuguese pilot knows that he can count on a familiar environment and enthusiasm from the fans to compensate for at least part of the handicap. "Valencia is very special to us because SEAT secured their first win here back in 2005 and because we have a special relationship with this circuit. Its configuration, like an amphitheatre, allows the spectators to follow a lap from start to finish. As always, qualifying will be crucial in order to have a chance of finishing the first race in a good position and stay away from any mayhem. It is normal that we have some contact in the World Touring Car Championship, that is in its essence, but I think we could have a better justice system in regard to who should be or should not be penalized," Tiago remembers, when after fighting for a podium in the last round in Oschersleben, got a drive through penalty for a contact that a rival was responsible for.

In Valencia, the weather could throw in another element of uncertainty with cloudy skies and the possibility of downpours on Friday and storms on Sunday with temperatures close to 37°C.