Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan
| Location | Marrakech, Morocco |
|---|---|
| Major events |
WTCC, Auto GP, Formula E |
| 2016 – present | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 3 km (1.83 mi) |
| Turns | 14 |
| Lap record | 1:21.509 (Felix Rosenqvist, Mahindra Racing, 2016, Formula E) |
| 2009 – 2015 | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 4.624 km (2.87 mi) |
| Turns | 15 |
| Lap record | 1:28.45 (Narain Karthikeyan, Zele Racing, 2013, Auto GP) |
The Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan (also known as Marrakech Street Circuit and Marrakech Racetrack) is a 3 kilometres (1.86 mi) temporary street circuit in Agdal district, Marrakech, Morocco.[1] The circuit is operated by MGP.[2] It has a capacity of 10,000 spectators.
History
MGP’s partner in Morocco, D3 Motorsport Development, was given the responsibility of the design of the street circuit. It is the same architect company that designed the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit in Australia.[3] Groupe Menara oversaw the construction on the Route de l'Ourika/Boulevard Mohammed based track.[2] The paddock had been paved alongside the walls of the Royal Garden and more than 2500 concrete impact blocks and many debris fence panels had been put in place to bound the track.[1]
The third round of the 2009 World Touring Car Championship season was held there on 3 May 2009, becoming the first international car race in Morocco since the 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix at the Ain-Diab Circuit in Casablanca and the first event for the WTCC in Africa.[4]
In December 2015 it was announced the circuit would undergo a major overhaul to make it more challenging. Only half of the original circuit will be utilised when the new layout comes into effect from the 2016 FIA WTCC Race of Morocco.[5]
The circuit
The original circuit had a very simple layout. It was a 4.6km flat oval circuit with a hairpin at one end and chicanes punctuating the straights, running in an anticlockwise direction.[6] The new circuit will only be 3km long, with 14 turns and more variance in the style of corners and the like.
Major events
WTCC
| Year | Race | Driver | Manufacturer | Report | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Race 1 |  Tom Coronel |
 Chevrolet |
Report | |
| Race 2 |  José María López |
 Citroën | |||
| 2015 | Race 1 | José María López |
Citroën |
Report | |
| Race 2 | Yvan Muller |
Citroën | |||
| 2014 | Race 1 | José María López |
Citroën |
Report | |
| Race 2 | Sébastien Loeb |
Citroën | |||
| 2013 | Race 1 |  Michel Nykjær |
Chevrolet |
Report | |
| Race 2 |  Pepe Oriola |
SEAT | |||
| 2012 | Race 1 |  Alain Menu |
Chevrolet |
Report | |
| Race 2 | Yvan Muller |
Chevrolet | |||
| 2011 | Not held | ||||
| 2010 | Race 1 |  Gabriele Tarquini |
SEAT |
Report | |
| Race 2 |  Andy Priaulx |
 BMW | |||
| 2009 | Race 1 | Robert Huff |
Chevrolet |
Report | |
| Race 2 | Nicola Larini |
Chevrolet | |||
AutoGP
| Year | Race | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Race 1 |  Kimiya Sato |
Euronova Racing |
| Race 2 | Markus Pommer |
Super Nova International | |
| 2013 | Race 1 | Sergio Campana |
Ibiza Racing Team |
| Race 2 | Luciano Bacheta |
 Zele Racing | |
| 2012 | Race 1 | Sergio Campana |
Team MLR71 |
| Race 2 |  Chris van der Drift |
Manor MP Motorsport |
Formula E
| Year | Race | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-17 | Marrakesh ePrix | Sébastien Buemi |
Renault e.dams |
References
- 1 2 "NEXT STOP: MARRAKECH, MOROCCO". fiawtcc.com. 2009-04-25. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
- 1 2 "Marrackech Racetack Unveiled". fiawtcc.com. n.d. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
- ↑ "Marrackech Morocco". formulatwo.com. n.d. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ↑ "Marrackech GP Joins 2009 WTCC Calendar". fiawtcc.com. n.d. Archived from the original on November 14, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
- ↑ "Circuit Moulay El Hassan in Morocco to undergo major facelift". TouringCarTimes. 7 December 2015.
- ↑ "Marrackech Morocco". formulatwo.com. n.d. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
External links
Coordinates: 31°35′11″N 7°59′10″W / 31.58639°N 7.98611°W