The Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan (also known as Marrakech Street Circuit and Marrakech Racetrack) is a semi-permanent street circuit in Agdal district, Marrakesh, Morocco. The circuit is operated by MGP. 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. Groupe Menara oversaw the construction on the Route de l'Ourika/Boulevard Mohammed based track. 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.
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.
The original circuit had a very simple layout. It was a flat oval circuit with a hairpin at one end and chicanes punctuating the straights, running in an anticlockwise direction. 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.
Events
Former
Auto GP (2012–2014) FIA Formula Two (2010) Formula E Marrakesh ePrix (2016, 2018–2020, 2022) TCR World Tour (2024) World Touring Car Championship FIA WTCC Race of Morocco (2009–2010, 2012–2017) World Touring Car Cup FIA WTCR Race of Morocco (2018–2019)
Lap records
As of May 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan are listed as:
CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent Permanent Circuit (2016–present): TCR Touring Car 0:50.613 Ma Qinghua Lynk & Co 03 FL TCR 2024 Marrakesh TCR World Tour round Semi-Permanent Circuit (2016–2022): Formula E 1:20.296 Lucas di Grassi Audi e-tron FE05 2019 Marrakesh ePrix TC1 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 Street Circuit (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 JPH1B 2010 Marrakech Formula Two round TC1 1:43.480 José María López Citroën C-Elysée WTCC 2015 FIA WTCC Race of Morocco Super 2000 1:44.617 Pepe Oriola SEAT León WTCC 2012 FIA WTCC Race of Morocco
Results
Formula E Year Race Driver Team 2021-22 Marrakesh ePrix Edoardo Mortara Venturi Racing 2019-20 Marrakesh ePrix António Félix da Costa Techeetah 2018-19 Marrakesh ePrix Jerome D'Ambrosio Mahindra Racing 2017-18 Marrakesh ePrix Felix Rosenqvist Mahindra Racing 2016-17 Marrakesh ePrix Sébastien Buemi Renault e.dams
WTCR Year Race Driver Manufacturer Report 2019 Race 1 Esteban Guerrieri HondaReport Race 2 Gabriele Tarquini Hyundai Race 3 Thed Björk Lynk & Co 2018 Race 1 Gabriele Tarquini HyundaiReport Race 2 Jean Karl Vernay Audi Race 3 Gabriele Tarquini Hyundai
WTCC Year Race Driver Manufacturer Report 2017 Race 1 Esteban Guerrieri ChevroletReport Race 2 Tiago Monteiro Honda 2016 Race 1 Tom Coronel ChevroletReport Race 2 José María López Citroën 2015 Race 1 José María López CitroënReport Race 2 Yvan Muller Citroën 2014 Race 1 José María López CitroënReport Race 2 Sébastien Loeb Citroën 2013 Race 1 Michel Nykjær ChevroletReport Race 2 Pepe Oriola SEAT 2012 Race 1 Alain Menu ChevroletReport Race 2 Yvan Muller Chevrolet 2010 Race 1 Gabriele Tarquini SEATReport Race 2 Andy Priaulx BMW 2009 Race 1 Robert Huff ChevroletReport 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
Future developments Formula 1 will potentially come to Morocco. Stefano Domenicali, CEO of the Formula 1 Group, has revealed ongoing discussions to host a Grand Prix event in Africa, pinpointing North Africa and South Africa, alongside considerations for two countries in the Far East. Morocco emerges as a frontrunner in this expansion strategy, given its historical ties to Formula 1 and its fusion of rich cultural heritage with captivating urban landscapes. This move marks a significant step in Formula 1's global outreach, promising to blend the thrill of racing with Morocco's scenic beauty and cultural depth.
Notes
References
External links WTCC Official website Circuit's Official website Map and circuit history at RacingCircuits.info Moroccan Grand Prix