Marrakech: Citroën impress in first test

The Citroën Total WTCC team gave an impressive proof of the shape they are in during the first test session at Marrakech today.

From the very beginning the French team’s drivers topped the time sheet, improving their pace lap after lap. The rest of the field was left behind, with a number of competitors being very cautious while they are still trying to get used to the new cars.

Eventually reigning champion Yvan Muller set the fastest lap of 1:44.513, followed by team-mates Sébastien Loeb (1:44.945) and Jose María López (1:45.161).

Campos Racing’s Hugo Valente emerged as best of the rest in his Chevrolet RML car, however his best time of 1:46.470 remained nearly two seconds off Muller’s.

Tiago Monteiro ranked fifth in the fastest Honda Civic (1:46.503) ahead of Rob Huff’s LADA Granta (1:46.798).

Tom Coronel, Mehdi Bennani, Tom Chilton and Gabriele Tarquini rounded off the top-ten.
In the TC2T class, Franz Engstler’s BMW posted the fastest lap of 1:50.549, from Peter Fulín’s SEAT (1:52.196).