Honda strengthens its presence with Guerrieri, Girolami and Monteiro

Honda is moving forward for the 2019 World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) season. The Japanese manufacturer placed the Argentinians Esteban Guerrieri and Nestor Girolami aboard two Civic Type-Rs from the Münnich Motorsport team, under the status of official Honda Racing drivers.

Honda will also support Tiago Monteiro's full-time return to a third Civic Type-R in 2019. The Portuguese, seriously injured in private testing in September 2017, had already had a taste of fierce competition in WTCR during the Suzuka meeting (Japan) last fall. The identity of his team as well as his teammate have yet to be determined. 

First day behind the wheel this year for @Tiagosworld18; helping out @JASMotorsport with the Civic #TypeR TCR at Varano. pic.twitter.com/kwx6U6WvvH

— Honda Racing WTCR (@hondaracingwtcr) 25th January 2019

“I experienced some incredible highlights with Münnich Motorsport in 2018, such as my successes on the Nordschleife (Germany) and in Macau, specifies Esteban Guerrieri, third in the general classification. We are very good friends with “Bebu” (Girolami), I raced against him for many years in national competitions, his arrival is good news. »

Nestor Girolami is no stranger to the world of Tourism. The 29-year-old driver had just started in the WTCC in a Honda Civic in 2015 in Slovakia (10th and 11th) before taking part in the final WTCC season with Polestar Cyan Racing in 2017, a campaign punctuated by success and ninth place overall. 

Pleased to announce that I will be joining the Honda Racing family in @FIA_WTCR With https://t.co/GQLRmH9RIL Münnich Motorsport team and @E_Guerrieri as my teammate! I can't wait to jump into the Honda Civic Type R TCR! #WTCR pic.twitter.com/uy3FkqldWQ

— Nestor Bebu Girolami (@bebugirolami) 28th January 2019

“The Honda Civic Type-R is a car capable of winning the championship, advances the one nicknamed “Bebu”. I experienced the Suzuka meeting with the team last year, it became very clear that the potential is there to win the title. »

René Münnich, the team boss, is aiming high. “Since we entered the WTCC in 2013, we have become more competitive year after year. In 2018, we collected our best results with four victories (two for Esteban Guerrieri, two for Yann Ehrlacher. Editor’s note) as well as third position in the Drivers and Teams championships. We are hungry for titles. »