Well done Tiago! Honda’s ‘dreamer’ completes return from injury with top 15 finish

Tiago Monteiro placed 15 on his comeback from serious injury, revealing afterwards that he thought he was dreaming as he headed to the grid for the start.

Monteiro hadn’t raced since WTCC Race of Argentina in July 2017 but he returned with P15 at WTCR JVCKENWOOD Race of Japan in his Boutsen Ginion Racing Honda Civic.

“It’s a great feeling to be back,” said Monteiro, who was making his long-awaited debut in the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup presented by OSCARO. “As I’ve said before, the whole weekend has been very emotional and very exciting and I’m enjoying the moment really.

“The warm-up lap was actually very tense, it was quite strange. I felt like I was almost dreaming, like I wasn’t really here and at the same time it felt like it was two or three weeks ago. It was very surreal. Then in the race it felt normal, you’re doing your stuff. I just did my race, to understand the car, tried to push and have fun. And I did. I enjoyed it.”