Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan
The Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan (also known as Marrakech Street Circuit and Marrakech Racetrack) is a 2.971 km (1.846 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.
 Current semi-permanent circuit (2016–present)  Original street circuit (2009–2015) | |
| Location | Marrakech, Morocco |
|---|---|
| Time zone | GMT |
| Capacity | 10,000 |
| FIA Grade | 2 |
| Opened | 2009 |
| Major events | Current: Championnat du Maroc Former: Formula E Marrakesh ePrix (2016, 2018–2020) FIA WTCR Race of Morocco (2009–2010, 2012–2019) Auto GP (2012–2014) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (2016–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 2.971 km (1.846 miles) |
| Turns | 14 |
| Race lap record | 1:20.296 ( Lucas di Grassi, Audi e-tron FE05, 2019, Formula E) |
| Original Circuit (2009–2015) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 4.545 km (2.824 miles) |
| Turns | 15 |
| Race lap record | 1:28.450 ( Narain Karthikeyan, Lola B05/52, 2013, Auto GP) |
| Website | www |
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 2,500 concrete impact blocks and many debris fence panels had been put in place to bound the track.[1]
The third round of the 2009 WTCC 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]
The original circuit had a very simple layout. It was a 4.545 km (2.824 mi) flat oval circuit with a hairpin at one end and chicanes punctuating the straights, running in an anticlockwise direction.[5] In December 2015 it was announced the circuit would undergo a major overhaul to make it more challenging. Only half of the original circuit was utilized when the new layout came into effect for the 2016 FIA WTCC Race of Morocco.[6]
Lap Records
The lap records at the Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan are listed as:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Date | Circuit Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Layout: 2.971 km (2016–present) | |||||
| Formula E | 1:20.296 | Lucas di Grassi | Audi e-tron FE05 | 2019 Marrakesh ePrix | |
| WTCC | 1:23.087 | Hugo Valente | Lada Vesta WTCC | 2016 FIA WTCC Race of Morocco | |
| TCR Touring Car | 1:26.150 | Gabriele Tarquini | Hyundai i30 N TCR | 2018 FIA WTCR Race of Morocco | |
| Original Layout: 4.545 km (2009–2015) | |||||
| Auto GP | 1:28.450 | Narain Karthikeyan | Lola B05/52 | 2013 Marrakech Auto GP round | |
| F2 (2009-2012) | 1:31.312 | Dean Stoneman | Williams JPH1 | 2010 Marrakech Formula Two round | |
| WTCC | 1:43.480 | José María López | Citroën C-Elysée WTCC | 2015 FIA WTCC Race of Morocco | |
Events
- Current
- January: Championnat du Maroc
- Former
- Auto GP (2012–2014)
- FIA Formula Two (2010)
- Formula E Marrakesh ePrix (2016, 2018–2020)
- World Touring Car Championship FIA WTCR Race of Morocco (2009–2010, 2012–2017)
- World Touring Car Cup FIA WTCR Race of Morocco (2018–2019)
Results
Formula E
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WTCR
| Year | Race | Driver | Manufacturer | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Race 1 |  Esteban Guerrieri |
 Honda |
Report |
| Race 2 |  Gabriele Tarquini |
 Hyundai | ||
| Race 3 |  Thed Björk |
 Lynk & Co | ||
| 2018 | Race 1 | Gabriele Tarquini |
Hyundai |
Report |
| Race 2 |  Jean Karl Vernay |
 Audi | ||
| Race 3 | Gabriele Tarquini |
Hyundai | ||
WTCC
| Year | Race | Driver | Manufacturer | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Race 1 | Esteban Guerrieri |
 Chevrolet |
Report |
| Race 2 |  Tiago Monteiro |
Honda | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 |
References
- "NEXT STOP: MARRAKECH, MOROCCO". fiawtcc.com. 2009-04-25. Archived from the original on 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
- "Marrackech Racetack Unveiled". fiawtcc.com. n.d. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
- "Marrackech Morocco". formulatwo.com. n.d. Archived from the original on 2010-05-06. 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.
- "Marrackech Morocco". formulatwo.com. n.d. Archived from the original on 2010-05-06. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- "Circuit Moulay El Hassan in Morocco to undergo major facelift". TouringCarTimes. 7 December 2015.