WTCC HEADS TO MOROCCO AND THE FIRST EVER AFRICAN RACE For the first time in its history, the World Touring Car Championship will be raced in Morocco, a country that had not staged a points-scoring world series race since the Moroccan Grand Prix Formula 1 way back in 1958.  SEAT Sport arrive in Marrakech as championship leaders after a successful start to the 2009 season in Brazil and Mexico.

The event taking place next 2-3 May means Morocco will once again make the international headlines thanks to the WTCC, which is expanding to new countries and continents, as well as a great challenge for SEAT Sport, since the race is being held on a new urban circuit.

 The team is currently in the lead of the drivers’ and manufacturers’ points standings after the four victories chalked up in Brazil and Mexico, and has just finished carrying out tests on the Magny Cours and Portimao tracks to improve the settings on the Seat León TDI.

The city of Marrakech has gone all out to cater to the participants at the third season meeting. The city and its inhabitants will also be rooting heavily for Mehdi Bennani, the Moroccan driver who will become the first African to compete at a WTCC event, whose participation will be at the wheel of a SEAT León WTCC belonging to the Exagon team.

Competitors in this race will be using the new scale of ballast weight decided on by the FIA for the first time. This system is based on calculating the average of the fast laps during the training sessions and the race of each brand’s two fastest cars at the previous two events.



Xavi Serra, SEAT Sport Chief Track Engineer: “We believe the layout of the track isn’t bad for our cars, but there are a lot of unanswered questions. Urban circuits tend to give a lot of grip problems, and besides, the peculiar aspect about this track is that it is the only one of the championship that practically has no bends; it’s mostly straightaways dotted with chicanes and one hairpin turn before the finish line. All of the teams will have to solve a lot of issues during the opening training sessions.”

SEAT brings WTCC news to all its fans on Twitter

SEAT Sport will be increasing its contact with all racing enthusiasts starting with the meeting in Marrakech through Twitter, one of the most popular communication channels on Internet. Tune in to SEAT Sport’s channel at www.twitter.com/seatsport, for full team news, race results and drivers’ statements directly onto your computer or mobile telephone screen.

Timing

Friday, 1st May
15.00 – 15.30: Free practice (17.00 – 17.30 CET)

Saturday, 2nd  May
9.00 – 9.30: Free practice 1 (11.00 – 11.30 CET) 
12.30 – 13.00: Free practice 2 (14.00 – 14.30 CET)
15.00 – 15.50: Qualifying practice (17.00 – 17.50 CET)

Sunday, 3rd May
10.00 – 10.15: Warm-up  (12.00 – 12.15 CET)
13.05: 1st race: 11 laps with rolling start (15.05 – 15.30 CET)
14.20: 2nd race: 11 laps with standing start (16.20 – 16.45 CET)

Weight and ballast
SEAT León TDI, 1170 Kg. + 40 Kg. ballast = 1210 Kg.
SEAT petrol, 1170 Kg. - 20 Kg. ballast = 1150 Kg.
BMW, 1155 Kg. + 40 Kg. ballast = 1195 Kg.
Chevrolet and Lada 1170 Kg. - 20 Kg. ballast = 1150 Kg.

(BMW “320Si” will be competing with 15 Kg. less than the SEAT León TDI, thanks to a special authorisation from the FIA.)