This weekend marks the resumption of the 2024 Kumho FIA TCR World Tour with the Race of Morocco. Taking place at the short, sharp 1.98km Circuit Moulay El Hassan in Marrakech, this is the first touring car event held at the circuit since 2019.
The full-time World Tour drivers will be joined by special guests for the first standalone event of the season as the series does not link up with a local championship. The race promises to be exciting and intense, with many talented drivers vying for victory.
Norbert Michelisz leads the points after a strong start at Vallelunga, where he secured pole position and victory in Race 1 in his BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Elantra. His teammate Mikel Azcona is his closest rival in the standings after finishing fourth in both races. The GOAT Racing Honda pair of Marco Butti and Esteban Guerrieri follow in third and fourth place tied in points after a solid start for the new Honda-equipped team. Lynk & Co Cyan Racing aims to improve after a mixed start to the season, with Yann Ehrlacher and Santiago Urrutia achieving the team’s strongest results so far with a pair of second places.
The Marrakech racetrack is where several notable drivers made their debut or returned to action last year, including Thed Björk and Sami Taoufik who secured victories for Chinese manufacturer Lynk & Co 03 TCR and Audi RS 3 LMS respectively. Both drivers are looking forward to returning to action and challenging themselves against some of the world’s best touring car drivers this weekend.
This weekend also sees two guest drivers making their debuts: Dušan Borković, who won TCR Eastern Europe championship last year driving for GOAT Racing, will make a one-off appearance while Mehdi Bennani, who was named TCR Europe champion last year, will drive a CUPRA Leon VZ for Team Clairet Sport aiming for his first win on home soil.