Breaking news
WTCC Macau
Monteiro to miss Macau WTCC round too
Honda driver Tiago Monteiro will miss a third consecutive WTCC event on medical grounds after being ruled out of the Macau round.
Scott Mitchell
Edited: Nov 8, 2017, 5:32 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Portuguese driver led the championship before suffering a high-speed testing crash at Barcelona in September which caused compression of the nerves and problems with his vision.
That meant he missed the races in China and Japan and slipped to fourth in the standings, 28.5 points behind Volvo's new leader Thed Bjork.
Honda has now confirmed that after further examinations in Portugal, Monteiro will remain sidelined and Esteban Guerrieri will continue to drive in his place.
Though the WTCC did not race in Macau last year, Monteiro won the Guia event driving in a one-off for WestCoast Racing in the season finale of the TCR International Series.
"I'm extremely disappointed to have to miss the chance to continue my fight for the WTCC crown and defend my Guia Race title," said Monteiro.
"Macau is one of the most challenging circuits in the world and one I love racing on. I feel ready to return and I've been able to increase my training so it's now at virtually the same level as before the accident.
"Unfortunately, despite this, the risk of a second impact on my body is still too great and I need to wait a little while longer before I'm fully healed.
"I cannot even begin to explain how it makes me feel to see my title ambitions slipping away. All I can do is continue to train hard and aim to return in Qatar to help Honda's title ambitions."
Honda trails Volvo by 46.5 points in the manufacturers' championship, while its best-placed driver is now Norbert Michelisz, 16.5 points behind Bjork.
If Bjork scores 31.5 points in Macau, Monteiro's championship challenge will be over regardless of whether he returns for the Qatar finale on November 30/December 1.
Monteiro's absence gives Guerrieri the chance to build on his podium-finishing Honda debut in Japan.
The Argentinian was called up by Honda because Monteiro's China substitute Gabriele Tarquini was absent on TCR duties, and finished third in the reverse-grid opener and fourth in the red-flagged main race.
Guerrieri's old team Campos Racing has also confirmed it will run debutants Clerebold Chan Kin-Pong and Po Wah Wong in its Chevrolet RML Cruzes in Macau, while Sebastien Loeb Racing fields Mak Ka Lok alongside fellow WTCC returnee Ma Qing Hua.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Almirola to replace Patrick at Stewart-Haas Racing in 2018
Next article Aric Almirola on move to SHR: “I want the pressure”
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Scott Mitchell
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Formula 1
Formula 1
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
Formula 1
Formula 1
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
More from
Tiago Monteiro
Monteiro says he lost focus in "very emotional" final laps
WTCR
WTCR
Vila Real
Monteiro says he lost focus in "very emotional" final laps
Portugal WTCR: Monteiro scores first win since return
WTCR
WTCR
Vila Real
Portugal WTCR: Monteiro scores first win since return
Monteiro joins new Honda squad for full-time WTCR return
WTCR
WTCR
Monteiro joins new Honda squad for full-time WTCR return
More from
Honda Racing Team JAS
Honda's Kyalami defeat "hard to take" after dominant run
Endurance
Endurance
Honda's Kyalami defeat "hard to take" after dominant run
Cameron joins Honda for Kyalami IGTC round
Endurance
Endurance
Cameron joins Honda for Kyalami IGTC round
First Honda TCR car lands in Australia
TCR
TCR
First Honda TCR car lands in Australia
Latest news
Max Verstappen slams “unacceptable” bumps at Austin F1 track: “It's out of control”
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
3 h
Max Verstappen slams “unacceptable” bumps at Austin F1 track: “It's out of control”
Kimi Antonelli ready to "finish the job" as first F1 title chance beckons at US GP
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
4 h
Kimi Antonelli ready to "finish the job" as first F1 title chance beckons at US GP
How to watch NASCAR at Talladega II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
4 h
How to watch NASCAR at Talladega II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV
Peterson Racing addresses online abuse after parting ways with Austin Green
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Talladega II
4 h
Peterson Racing addresses online abuse after parting ways with Austin Green
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe