NEWS ARCHIVE

Moroccan motorsport fans had their first taste of WTCC yesterday evening, during an autograph session that was attended by most of the drivers. The promotional event took place from 20.00 to 21.30 in Place du 16 Novembre, the heart of the Guéliz district, where a huge crowd qeued to get the drivers’ autographs and take pictures with them. Hit Radio provided live music and introduced the drivers to the public before the start of the autograph session.

On the occasion of the WTCC Race of Morocco, the FIA World Touring Car Championship will support the charity association L’Heure Joyeuse in its action against the social exclusion. Throughout the weekend, WTCC will bring its contribution to the Opération-Vélo, which aims to collect funds to offer bicycles to the most destitute children in the rural world in order to ease them the access to school and then to prevent from school abandon.

The FIA World Touring Car Championship announces a pioneer deal with electric bicycle supplier "Richard Virenque by Hilltecks", starting from the Race of Morocco in Marrakech. This deal marks a landmark partnership as it represents a significant step forward to a more eco-friendly WTCC paddock. Cautious about environmental issues, the FIA WTCC aims to be more eco-responsible and this partnership with Hilltecks Bike confirms the FIA WTCC plan to develop environmental initiatives.

The FIA WTCC is about to resume after a one month break following the cancellation of the second event of the season that was due to take place at Puebla, Mexico, on April 21st. The 3rd and 4th rounds of the season will be held on May 2nd in Morocco, on Marrakech’s street circuit that will host the championship for the second consecutive time.

200 guests from several countries attended yesterday, the WTCC presentation organized by Eurosport in collaboration with Motorsport-Total.com. The event was held in Germany, at the Munich Marriott Hotel. After the opening speech delivered by Bernd Daubenmerkl, CEO of Eurosport Media GmbH, KSO General Manager Marcello Lotti said: “The 2010 season has just started, but we are already working for the future.

Rounds 5 and 6 of the 2010 FIA World Touring Car Championship will take place at Monza, Italy, 22nd and 23rd May. The deadline to apply for media credentials is Tuesday, 11th May. Please be reminded that media passes issued by National Sporting Authorities and/or any other series will NOT be valid. Accreditation forms can be downloaded from www.fiawtcc.com/Accreditation.asp.

Three Moroccan drivers will join the FIA WTCC event at Marrakech, in addition to their fellow countryman and championship regular Mehdi Bennani. Thanks to the support of the Fédèration Royale Marocaine de Sport Automobile (FRMSA), Ismaïl Sbaï, Youssaf El Marnissi and Larbi Tadlaoui will compete under the banner of “Morocco Team” at the wheel of three identical Chevrolet Lacetti cars run by the Swiss outfit Maurer Motorsport.

For the second consecutive year the Moroccan National Tourist Office (MNTO) will be the Event Presenting Partner of the WTCC Race of Morocco, that will take place at Marrakech on May 2nd. As title sponsor, the Moroccan tourism organisation will benefit from premium visibility on TV, on-site, on the internet and all promotional documents prior to and during the race meeting.

Liqui Moly Team Engstler dominated the opening event of the ADAC Procar, Sunday at Oschersleben’s Motorsport Arena. After claiming the first fourth places in qualifying with the BMW cars of Roland Hertner, Johannes Leidinger, Rustem Teregulov and Florian Spengler, the team made a clean sweep in both the first and second rounds of the German series. Hertner won the first race from team-mates and fellow countrymen Leidinger and Spengler, which gave Team Engstler the whole podium.