Honda Racing retains driver line-up for the 2021 WTCR

Honda Racing announced an unchanged line-up for the forthcoming WTCR. Esteban Guerrieri, Néstor Girolami, Tiago Monteiro and Attila Tassi will race again a quartet of Honda Civic Type R cars, just as they have done for the previous two years.
The customer racing teams that each driver will compete with in 2021 will be announced at a later date.

With four race wins, Guerrieri was classified fourth in the 2020 championship: "Extending this relationship with Honda is a fantastic feeling, particularly after another strong campaign in 2020 despite all the challenges the year presented. Globally we hope that things will be very different in 2021 compared to last year, but one thing that we hope will stay the same is our competitiveness. We have proved every season so far that we are capable of fighting for the title, so naturally feel that we can push for it again in 2021."

His compatriot Girolami won the opening race of the WTCR campaign at Zolder in 2020: “There were ups and downs for me in the 2020 season but it was a solid year and I'm pleased with the competitive level I was able to show at every round. Winning the first race of the season and setting a new pole position record at the Nürburgring were two big highlights and show I can be the pacesetter, so I start my third year as a Honda Racing driver as sure as ever that I can fight for the championship."

Monteiro claimed his first podium of the 2020 season as he finished runner-up to Esteban in a landmark 1-2-3 for Honda at the Hungaroring: "I'm delighted to be continuing my relationship with Honda into what will be a tenth year. It's the longest I've driven for a brand in my career and this milestone proves what a great relationship we have built over that period. Last year was a very challenging year, but challenges are part of this sport and we rose up to face and overcome them. Those harder moments only served as motivation to add more success this season as part of this strong line-up."

In his second full season, Tassi recorded his first podium finishes in the WTCR, with third behind Girolami at Zolder: “It is a great pleasure to be a Honda Racing driver in the WTCR for a third year in a row; I'm proud of the potential Honda sees in me. I was happy with the progress I made in 2020, scoring my first podiums, and with how I gelled with those around me. For 2021, I hope I can take another big step forward and show the frontrunning pace I was able to display on an even more regular basis."

Picture: WTCR/DPPI