Attack time as Honda stars chase top WTCC placings

Factory Honda drivers Rob Huff, Norbert Michelisz and Tiago Monteiro will be in attack mode when the 2016 FIA World Touring Car Championship reaches its climax under floodlights in Qatar tomorrow.
With 55 points up for grabs at WTCC DHL Race of Qatar, all three remain in contention for the coveted runner-up spot behind Jose Maria Lopez, who made it a hat-trick of world titles two races ago.
Monteiro is the best-placed member of the trio to the snatch second spot from Yvan Muller, although the Portuguese will have to cancel out a 31-point deficit to do so.
“My aim at the start of the season was to finish in the top three of the championship, but while right now I’m third in the points, we’ll all try our absolute hardest to take second place, even though the points gap will be tough to overcome,” said the Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team driver.
“The package we’ve developed with Honda this year is a significant step forward and I arrive in Qatar on a high having just won the Macau Guia Race. This will give me even more strength and confidence to end my season on a high.”
Michelisz, who clinched the WTCC Trophy title in Qatar last season, is 14 points behind Monteiro. “We’ve definitely maximised the opportunity to finish in the top three at every round by making sure our qualifying strategy was right,” said the Hungarian.
“With less compensation weight than we’ve had recently, I think our strategy will be a little different, but our aim will be the same and that’s to win. Last year I made the podium in Qatar, and the Civic is a stronger package than it was 12 months ago, so I think things are looking pretty good.”
Huff, meanwhile, will have his work cut out to finished P2 in the final ranking with the Briton needing to qualify on the DHL pole position and win both races. Even then he’d need Muller to non-score and Monteiro to falter.

Bjork on Thed alert for more WTCC success
Björk’s opening race win in China last time out was a first in the WTCC for Volvo Cars, Polestar Cyan Racing and the multiple Scandinavian Touring Car champion. Now the 35-year-old Swede has a thirst for more in his factory Volvo S60 Polestar TC1.
“I’m feeling really strong after the Shanghai, to claim the lead and the win on the very last lap was amazing,” said Bjork. “Our first season has exceeded our expectations both in terms of race weekends and testing in between, so I am very much looking forward to continue this under the floodlights in Qatar.”
Bjork and teammate Robert Dahlgren head to Qatar on the back of a successful three-day test in southern Europe recently.

Muller Month: Filippi makes Prost, Loeb comparisons
John Filippi has paid tribute to compatriot and mentor Yvan Muller ahead of the latter’s FIA World Touring Car Championship farewell at WTCC DHL Race of Qatar.
Muller has advised the Campos Racing privateer during the 2016 season and the four-time WTCC champion has clearly made an impression on the 21-year-old Corsican.
“A lot of people wanted his career,” said Filippi, who famously clashed on-track with Muller at WTCC Race of Qatar in 2015.
“He was a reference for French drivers, we knew Prost is world champion in Formula One, Sebastien Loeb is world champion in rally and Yvan was world champion in touring cars. I will be a bit sad without him in the paddock. He was a figure of the WTCC and it will be very different without him. He had a very beautiful career.”