It’s street racing time in the FIA World Touring Car Championship next week (17-19 April) when Marrakech hosts Eurodatacar WTCC Race of Morocco. No driver has won more than once at Circuit Moulay El Hassan since the WTCC first visited in 2009. And with plans for a permanent track for 2016 progressing, rounds three and four of this year’s WTCC could mark a notable milestone. Nineteen drivers are entered for the two races in Marrakech, which will enjoy extensive live television coverage across the globe, with Russian Mikhail Kozlovskiy making his first start of 2015 after he missed out in Argentina while his LADA team readied his all-new Vesta. His team-mate, Rob Huff, will be a source of inspiration, the Briton claiming 10 WTCC street race wins during his career, including once in Morocco. Two drivers that also know how to get things right in Marrakech are world champion José María López and his Citroën Total WTCC team-mate Sébastien Loeb, a nine-time world rally champion. They took a win apiece in Morocco last year on the C-Elysée WTCC’s race debut and shared the victories in Argentina’s season-opener last month. Norbert Michelisz (Honda Civic WTCC) heads the Yokohama Drivers’ Trophy for independent racers, three points ahead of local driver Mehdi Bennani.

Lap distance:     4.545km

Race distance:    2 x 14 laps / 63.63km

Location:            47, avenue Mohamed V – Guéliz, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco

Press officer:      Sanaa Smyej, s.smyej@publikart.ma, +212 661323331

Airports:             Marrakech Menara (8km)

Lap records:       Qualifying – 1:43.706/157.77kph, Sébastien Loeb (Citroën C-Elysée), 12 April 2014

                           Race – 1:43.704/157.76kph, José María López (Citroën C-Elysée), 13 April 2014

WTCC RACE OF MOROCCO ROLL OF HONOUR

DID YOU KNOW?

3 May 2009 – Rob Huff’s victory in the opening WTCC Race of Morocco marks the country’s first international car race since the 1958 Grand Prix at Casablanca, famously won by Sir Stirling Moss, who nevertheless loses out on the title to Mike Hawthorn.

13 April 2014 – Former WRC champion Sébastien Loeb makes an instant impact on his switch to the WTCC with victory in race two in Marrakech. Race one winner José María López goes on to take the title at the end of the season.

12 October 2014 – Moroccan driver Mehdi Bennani makes history by becoming the first Arabic driver to win a round of the WTCC when he triumphs in the second of two races in Shanghai.

WTCC TIMETABLE

Friday 17 April

08.00 – 18.00:    Media accreditation open (Hotel Ryad Mogador Kasbah)

08.00 – 19.00:    Media Centre open

12.00 – 12.30:    WTCC Testing

17.30 – 18.30:    Happy Hour (WTCC VIP Club)

Saturday 18 April

08.00 – 17.00:    Media accreditation open (Hotel Ryad Mogador Kasbah)

07.00 – 19.00:    Media Centre open

08.15 – 08.45:    WTCC Free Practice 1

10.15 – 10.45:    WTCC Free Practice 2

12.30 – 13.00:    WTCC Qualifying Q1

13.05 – 13.20:    WTCC Qualifying Q2

13.30:                    WTCC Qualifying Q3

14.10 (est):         Post-qualifying press conference (Media Centre)

Sunday 19 April

08.00 – 12.00:    Media accreditation open (Hotel Ryad Mogador Kasbah)

08.00 – until last journalist leaves:           Media Centre open

15.50:                   Pit lane open

16.00:                   Pit lane closed

16.10:                   Five-minute board displayed

16.15:                   WTCC Race 1 (14 laps)

16.55:                   WTCC Race 1 podium ceremony

17.00:                   Refuelling time starts

17.05:                   Repair time starts

17.10:                   Pit lane open

17.20:                   Pit lane closed

17.25:                   Five-minute board displayed

17.30:                   WTCC Race 2 (14 laps)

18.10:                   WTCC Race 2 podium ceremony

18.20 (est):         Post-race press conference (Media Centre)

FIA OFFICIALS

FIA WORLD TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS

The provisional classification will be available at http://www.fia.com/events/world-touring-car-championship/season-2015/world-touring-car-championship

FIA WTCC RACE OF MOROCCO

Results of each track session will be available at http://www.fia.com/events/world-touring-car-championship-wtcc/season-2015/2015-standings