Monteiro released from hospital after Nurburgring smash

The Portuguese driver had been leading the opening race at the German track ahead of the two factory Citroens of Yvan Muller and Jose Maria Lopez.

Monteiro kept the lead heading into the final lap before his tyre punctured at Kesselchen and he crashed out, with the two Citroens behind him attempting to dive around each side in avoidance.

Muller made the unlucky choice and crashed into the stricken Honda Civic, with both being instantly eliminated from the race and unable to start the second race.

“That was a very big accident and one I’m glad to come away from with only some bruising and quite a bit of soreness in my body,” said Monteiro.

“I have to say thank you to Honda for building such a strong car. It’s very frustrating because I was driving very carefully and not pushing too hard, but then I had a puncture at very high speed.

"My tactic was to be quite cautious in most places and then push to get a gap before the long straight to keep everyone else behind, and it’s certain that there was a very good chance to win.”

Monteiro remains second in the drivers’ standings, but has slipped from 14 points behind Lopez going into the weekend to 69 points adrift heading to the next round of the championship in Russia.

Neil Hudson / TouringCarTimes