Major facelift for Marrakech WTCC track

The FIA World Touring Car Championship drivers will face an exciting new challenge when Marrakech hosts FIA WTCC Race of Morocco from 7-8 May next year.

Event organisers have revealed details of a major facelift to Circuit Moulay El Hassan with a semi-permanent track built to FIA Grade II standards due to take shape from next month.

The work of Hermann Tilke’s renowned circuit design agency, the new-look track will still be housed in Marrakech’s hotel district, but will now incorporate part of the existing paddock area.

According to event promoter Aly Horma, “the motivation came first and foremost from wanting to upgrade the track to give the public more show, while at the same time ensuring less risk to the teams and hotels all along the track. The local government supported the initiative from the very beginning.”

Running in a clockwise direction, the track will measure three kilometres in length – down from the previous 4.6 kilometres – and will retain the Atlas Mountains and city wall as its backdrop. Its semi-permanent status will allow the local promoter and organising clubs to host motorsport events throughout the year as part of efforts to grow the sport in the region.

Horma also confirmed the GT Tour series from France would top the FIA WTCC Race of Morocco support bill, the first time international-specification GT cars have raced in Marrakech. “We’re very excited about that,” Horma added. “The Moroccan public will be too.”

Marrakech has hosted the WTCC since 2009.