Tiago Monteiro has hit out at rival driver James Thompson following the latest rounds of the World Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch.

Monteiro headed to the British circuit looking to build on his victory on home soil at Estoril, although the ex-F1 racer admitted that the Kent venue wouldn't be perfectly suited to his SEAT Leon TDi.

The Portuguese racer had qualified in eleventh place for the opening race but saw his chances hit when contact from Thompson's Honda saw him run wide and slip down the order – eventually taking the flag in 16th place. Starting down the order for race two as a result, he could finish only one place higher in 15th.

"Thompson's attitude was impressive,” an angered Monteiro said. “He has to pass at all costs and no matter what happens - it's unacceptable.

"I am not the only one to complain about him. Other drivers have realised what his behaviour is in several races this year. You just have to look at the violence of the attack to the rear end of my SEAT to understand that it was not just a move to try to move ahead a place.

“The impact was so heavy it was impossible to control the car. I went off track and I lost several places. The incident also had a negative effect on the suspension of my SEAT: it was unstable and all of the work done by the team over the past few days was ruined in a fraction of a second by a spiteful attitude.

“I am sad for the team because such an ill-intentioned driver decided the result of my weekend."