Tiago Monteiro: “I am able to better manage the difficulties of life”

Evil spirits might find it surprising to see you back at the forefront as if by magic at home, and not before...

Yes, I can understand. All the little details were sorted out in the right direction. First of all, running in front of your fans gives you a boost. I never perceived their support as a form of pressure, it increases my motivation and my concentration tenfold. In addition, our car runs well on city circuits. We started the season well in Marrakech with a sixth and an eighth place. This route has an urban character, with tight turns and heavy braking. Then, we experienced significant difficulties in Hungary, Slovakia and the Netherlands (no points scored. Editor's note), on more traditional tracks. On the Nordschleife we ​​could have done much better, but the yellow flags in practice ruined our chances.

Your KCMG teammate, Attila Tassi, had mechanical problems while leading the race. Another element that was on your side!

During the first lap, I also had problems with the engine. Miraculously, they disappeared on the next passage. Conversely, Attila's problems only got worse. So, of course, you have to have the little star to help, but you can have that bit of success, if you're 18th, it's not going to change anything. The driver must put himself in a position to take advantage of the slightest opportunity.

What did you change on the car for this meeting?

We have not revolutionized the earth. Even though we weren't up to par in terms of performance, we weren't lost. We just needed a little step to “score”. This step was done on the slopes in town.

Does sharing data with the other Honda team, Münnich Motorsport, explain this upturn in form (see Ah n°2224)?

Little by little, they open. This weekend it was a bit the opposite, they used our set-ups. This collaboration is what we always wanted to do at KCMG. I hope the cooperation continues, because they need us to win the Teams title (Münnich is 1st. Editor's note). Our common interest is to see Honda ahead.

With the proximity of the spectators in town, did you perceive the fervor of the public when you took the lead?

Normally, I see the Portuguese flags during the warm-up lap but I stay focused. There, the last two laps were complicated. I was 2”5 ahead of Yvan Muller, I attacked like a savage, and then suddenly: “Oh damn! » I realized that victory was near. My gaze focused on the crowd that stood up as I passed, the fences twisted so much that people were leaning over! I was losing my concentration, the little stupid mistake could happen. But fortunately, I held on.

Is it possible to compare this success to your victory at Vila Real in 2016, in the WTCC?

The emotion is much stronger this year. I felt through the looks of the people and their support that they were moved. I've received tons of messages from the motorsport community, not forgetting my family and friends. All these people understood that behind my trophy, there was a story of struggle with myself.

After the Nürburgring at the end of June, you were last in the general classification. How to stay motivated in these circumstances?

It’s clear that it bothered me. I continued to fight, you had to believe it. I have been suffering lately. I could see the criticism against me, because you can feel that kind of thing. Quite a few people doubted my ability to come back. But, deep down, I knew that I didn't need much to achieve a result. I really felt “like before” on a physical level, even stronger on a psychological level. I am able to better manage life's difficulties.

How much these two years of combat, since the accident of September 6, 2017, have changed your psychological resistance?

You are the first media to know: I adopted the Finnish “sisu” mantra, based on resilience and combativeness. The Nords relied in part on this philosophy, and it was what made them powerful. I researched the subject during my convalescence. You have to go with a positive mindset, and that's what I've been doing for several months.

Concretely, how does this translate into your life?

When I get up in the morning, I ask myself: “What is my goal, what do I want to achieve? » Challenges present themselves every day. The difference between winners and those who give up is the desire to solve challenges. You have to find a solution to solve every little problem, for anything and everything: a headache, a backache, a problem at the bank, etc. What matters is how you analyze what comes your way. So yes, it's easy to say today, but for months, it doesn't come to fruition. So, you think, you wonder what the point is. You're a little fed up. But you have to accept it and continue. The victory in Portugal could very well have not materialized. But that doesn't mean we had to give up. I've been competing for 22 years, and I never thought it was easy.

Why didn't you talk about it sooner?

Because I hadn't won yet. Now that it has borne fruit, I can express it and claim it. I sometimes work in companies for coaching, on the themes of working under pressure and maintaining motivation. I actually received a message from the last company I went to, the manager told me that I was the ideal example of my speech.

Have you been inspired by winning comebacks in sport?

I read a few books on the subject, as well as on positive mentality. An American collection struck me, about the best comebacks in basketball, baseball, among others. The athletes explain how they made the difference to return to the high level. In addition, Alessandro Zanardi's trajectory after his accident encouraged me. He had an extraordinary mentality when I met him in the WTCC, which is the reason why he became Paralympic champion.

Does this success change your ambitions for the Asian tour?

It's not because I won that everything will be easy. I'm still having trouble with the tires. I'm not completely confident with their behavior, I have a feeling of vagueness in curved inscription. Despite the summer break, we do not have much availability to conduct tests on this subject. There will still be critical moments, but it will be up to me to get back into the swing of things.