Photo: WTCR

Short Marrakech street circuit shakes up field for second FIA TCR World Tour round

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While the FIA TCR World Tour premiere in Italy two weeks ago had more or less the same pecking order at the top as last year, there are still plenty of unknown for the 2024 season and a shortened Marrakech street circuit which has not been used since 2019 will stir things further this weekend.

This is the second time the Moulay El Hassan circuit has been shortened, with it going from 4.545 km to 2.971 km in 2016 and now down to 1.701 km for 2024.

The last world touring car race was held there in 2019, meaning that the teams will face low grip levels, higher temperatures compared to the previous years as the race is held later and plenty of work to find the right setup.

2023 TCR World Tour champion Norbert Michelisz picked up where he left off in this year’s season opener and heads the standings with a win and sixth place.

And BRC Hyundai are clearly the ones to beat this year with team-mate Mikel Azcona holding second place overall, further proving the pace of the newly face lifted Hyundai Elantra N TCR.

The newly formed team GOAT Racing impressed in the Vallelunga season opener, with drivers Esteban Guerrieri and Marco Butti being closest to challenge the Hyundai drivers.

Italian youngster Butti is placed third overall, with team-mate Guerrieri fourth.

While two-time world champion Yann Ehrlacher seemed to be the main challenger to Michelisz in qualifying and the first race, the Lynk & Co Cyan Racing driver was unable to keep the lead after a lightning start as Michelisz sailed past on the straight of the second lap.

Santiago Urrutia left Vallelunga as the best placed Lynk & Co driver only in fifth place, having secured a reversed grid Race 2 podium finish and a seventh place in the first race.

And the Lynk & Co drivers seemed to lack pace, lamenting a power difference compared to its competitors, something that could change for Marrakech as the 03 FL TCR model has received a reduction of 20kg in Balance of Performance weight.

Another factor coming into force for Marrakech is the compensation weights.

Points leader Michelisz will carry 40kg, Azcona 30kg, Honda drivers Guerrier and Butti 20kg and Urrutia 10kg.

There are three wild-card entries for the Moroccan round, bringing the grid up to 15 cars.

Local hero Mehdi Bennani who will drive the new and competitive Cupra León VZ TCR alongside Team Clairet Sport team-mate Julien Piguet (Audi) and Dusan Borkovic and Viktor Fernández have been brought in by GOAT Racing.

Marrakech schedule

Times in WEST (CEST +1)

Friday – 3/5
10:00 – Free Practice 1
13:00 – Free Practice 2
16:00 – Qualifying

Saturday – 4/5
11:30 – Race 1 – 32 laps
15:30 – Race 2 – 32 laps

FIA TCR World Tour entry list – Marrakech


30 – Julien Piguet – Team Clairet Sport – Audi RS 3 LMS
31 – Viktor Fernández – GOAT Racing – Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCR
62 – Dusan Borkovic – GOAT Racing – Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCR
105 – Norbert Michelisz – BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse – Hyundai Elantra N
111 – Thed Björk – Lynk & Co Cyan Racing – Lynk & Co 03 FL
112 – Santiago Urrutia – Lynk & Co Cyan Racing – Lynk & Co 03 FL
125 – Mehdi Bennani – Team Clairet Sport – Cupra León VZ TCR
127 – John Filippi – Volcano Motorsport – Audi RS 3 LMS TCR
129 – Néstor Girolami – BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse – Hyundai Elantra N
155 – Ma Qing Hua – Lynk & Co Cyan Racing – Lynk & Co 03 FL
168 – Yann Ehrlacher – Lynk & Co Cyan Racing – Lynk & Co 03 FL
186 – Esteban Guerrieri – GOAT Racing – Honda Civic Type R FL5
196 – Mikel Azcona – BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse – Hyundai Elantra N
199 – Marco Butti – GOAT Racing – Honda Civic Type R FL5
212 – Sami Taoufik – Volcano Motorsport – Audi RS 3 LMS TCR