Monteiro claims rookie honours.

Tiago Monteiro continued his impressive finishing record right to the final chequered flag of the season in Shanghai on Sunday, claiming the title of best Formula One rookie in the process.

Despite two appearances by the safety car, the Jordan driver again showed how calm and cool-headed he could be by bringing his car home in eleventh place, the best-placed of the Bridgestone runners following Michael Schumacher's retirement and Rubens Barrichello's extra pit-stop. It was also Monteiro's 18th finishes in 19 races and, despite his best result coming in the farcical USGP, he ended the season with a podium and seven points to his credit to lift him above fellow newcomers Narain Karthikeyan, Christijan Albers, Patrick Friesacher, Vitantonio Liuzzi and Robert Doornbos in the final table.

"I can only be happy about what I have achieved this year, my first season of Formula One," Monteiro smiled, "I am the best rookie in the series, I beat a 40-year old record that belonged to Sir Jackie Stewart, and managed the greatest number of races finished by a rookie.

The Portuguese driver, who is confident of remaining in the top flight next season, believes that he could have finished higher than eleventh had the Chinese race not been disrupted twice by safety cars.

"I had a very good first stint, but my first pit-stop was before the appearance of the safety car and, because of this, my strategy was ruined," he said, "All my rivals exploited the safety car to take their stops and lose the bare minimum time-wise. Therefore, I had no other choice than to attack to the maximum until the chequered flag. I found myself in a battle with Coulthard, Button and Villeneuve for tenth place, and another battle near the end with Trulli, Pizzonia and Rubens.

"Because of this, my last race of the year was very good, and I am happy with it because it is important to finish the championship on a positive note. I received congratulations from many people this year, and my results exceeded all the hopes of my team, with two points finishes and a podium. I am very proud and happy of what I have achieved and these results give me confidence for next year."