Press release
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may 06, 2016 - Citroen
López and Muller head for Bennani’s home turf
Over the years, Marrakech has become one of the highlights of the FIA #wtcc season. Now the circuit is inaugurating a new track, completely different from its predecessor. #josmaralpez and Citroën currently lead the World Championship standings and will be looking to continue their momentum, while #yvanmuller will be seeking his first race win of 2016.
The Citroën Total drivers will be joined by Mehdi Bennani, who will enjoy unstinting support from his home crowd after a stellar start to the season for the SLR team in his Citroën #celysewtcc.
The Moulay El Hassan circuit in Marrakech, which made its first appearance on the FIA #wtcc calendar in 2009, was, until now, known for its long straight sections, punctuated by chicanes and connected by one hairpin and a few fast curves. This atypical circuit, lined by concrete safety walls, had been a happy hunting ground for the Citroën C-Elysée WTCCs.
In 2014, in its very first race in the championship, Citroën Total produced a resounding performance with #josmaralpez, Sébastien Loeb and #yvanmuller monopolising the podium, before pulling off another one-two finish in race two. Last year, five Citroën drivers – López, Qing Hua, Loeb, Bennani and Muller – took the top five places in a race for the first time in the brand’s motorsport history. In the second race, the team again won all three podium spots, with #yvanmuller victorious, demonstrating beyond doubt the supremacy of the C-Elysée on this 4.545km circuit.
It’s all change in 2016, with a new circuit in the same location but with different characteristics to those of the old track. The cars will drive anti-clockwise around this new circuit, which twists and turns around the paddock before incorporating part of the old track, but in the opposite direction. At just 2.971km, it will be one of the shortest circuits in FIA #wtcc history.
“I really liked the old circuit, which was like nothing else on the planet,” said #josmaralpez. “After my preparations on the Citroën #racing simulator, I get the impression the new track will be very slow. We won’t go quicker than 200kph and I can’t really see any good overtaking spots. The track seems narrow, without any big turns where you might slip past a rival. It’s going to be a real challenge, particularly in qualifying, with the course being so short. The times are going to be very close and the slightest error will be more costly here than elsewhere. In any case, I’m happy to be back in Morocco after such a cold start to the season! The atmosphere is always terrific in Marrakech.”
“Like José, I’m sad that the straight sections have been shortened to such an extent. We’ll never get into sixth gear, and maybe not even fifth,” added #yvanmuller. “We’ll need to keep up a good pace on this track. On paper, overtaking opportunities will be limited, but I’ll reserve judgement until I get out there. I’m hoping for a good weekend – better than at the Hungaroring. Yes, I got my first podium of the year, but it’s wins I’m aiming for!”
A national hero, Mehdi Bennani will have the crowd fully behind him. With second-place finishes in France and Slovakia and a win in Hungary, he has been a revelation so far this year in his Citroën #celysewtcc prepared by the SLR team. Currently sitting in third in the World Championship Standings behind #josmaralpez and Tiago Monteiro, Mehdi will be looking to continue his fine form. As in the first three meetings, he will line-up alongside Pechito and Yvan in Citroën’s MAC3 team.
After an initial adjustment in Hungary, the compensation weights will be rebalanced once again. The Citroëns will still carry 80kg of ballast, while the Hondas will carry 40kg, the Ladas 30kg, and the Volvos and Chevrolets 0kg.
Thanks to the one-two finishes achieved by Bennani / Chilton and López / Muller at the Hungaroring, Citroën has a 40-point lead in the Manufacturers’ World Championship.
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