2018 FIA WTCR Race of Morocco

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Race details
Round 1 of 10 in the 2018 World Touring Car Cup
Date 7–8 April 2018
Official name FIA WTCR Afriquia Race of Morocco
Location Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan, Marrakech, Morocco
Distance Race One
20 laps / 59.42 km (36.92 mi)
Distance Race Two
20 laps / 59.42 km (36.92 mi)
Distance Race Three
23 laps / 68.333 km (42.460 mi)
Race 1
Pole
Driver Sweden Thed Björk France M Racing-YMR
Time 1:24.698
Fastest lap
Driver Italy Gabriele Tarquini Italy BRC Racing Team
Time 1:26.450
Podium
First Italy Gabriele Tarquini Italy BRC Racing Team
Second Sweden Thed Björk France M Racing-YMR
Third United Kingdom Robert Huff France Sébastien Loeb Racing
Race 2
Fastest lap
Driver France Jean-Karl Vernay Luxembourg Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team WRT
Time 1:26.368
Podium
First France Jean-Karl Vernay Luxembourg Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team WRT
Second Morocco Mehdi Bennani France Sébastien Loeb Racing
Third Spain Pepe Oriola Spain Team Oscaro by Campos Racing
Race 3
Pole
Driver Italy Gabriele Tarquini Italy BRC Racing Team
Time 1:24.316
Fastest lap
Driver Italy Gabriele Tarquini Italy BRC Racing Team
Time 1:26.150
Podium
First Italy Gabriele Tarquini Italy BRC Racing Team
Second France Yvan Muller France M Racing-YMR
Third Sweden Thed Björk France M Racing-YMR

The 2018 FIA WTCR Afriquia Race of Morocco was the opening round of the 2018 World Touring Car Cup and the first running of the FIA WTCR Race of Morocco. It was held on 7th and 8th of April 2018 at the Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan in Marrakech, Morocco. The first and third races were won by Gabriele Tarquini and the second won by Jean-Karl Vernay.

Entry list

A total of 25 cars were entered. The following teams and drivers were entered into the event:

Team Car No. Drivers
Italy BRC Racing Team Hyundai i30 N TCR 5 Hungary Norbert Michelisz
Belgium DG Sport Compétition Peugeot 308 GTi TCR 7 France Aurélien Comte
Hungary Zengő Motorsport CUPRA León TCR 8 Hungary Norbert Nagy
Belgium Boutsen Ginion Racing Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 9 Netherlands Tom Coronel
Italy Team Mulsanne Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR 10 Italy Gianni Morbidelli
France M Racing-YMR Hyundai i30 N TCR 11 Sweden Thed Björk
France Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 12 United Kingdom Robert Huff
Germany ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 15 United Kingdom James Thompson
Belgium Audi Sport Team Comtoyou Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 20 Belgium Denis Dupont
Belgium Comtoyou Racing Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 21 France Aurélien Panis
Belgium Audi Sport Team Comtoyou Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 22 Belgium Frédéric Vervisch
Belgium Comtoyou Racing Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 23 France Nathanaël Berthon
France Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 25 Morocco Mehdi Bennani
Spain Team Oscaro by Campos Racing CUPRA León TCR 27 France John Filippi
Italy BRC Racing Team Hyundai i30 N TCR 30 Italy Gabriele Tarquini
France M Racing-YMR Hyundai i30 N TCR 48 France Yvan Muller
Luxembourg Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team WRT Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 52 United Kingdom Gordon Shedden
Belgium Boutsen Ginion Racing Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 63 Belgium Benjamin Lessennes
Hungary Zengő Motorsport CUPRA León TCR 66 Hungary Zsolt Szabó
Germany ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 68 France Yann Ehrlacher
Luxembourg Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team WRT Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 69 France Jean-Karl Vernay
Belgium DG Sport Compétition Peugeot 308 GTi TCR 70 Slovakia Mat'o Homola
Spain Team Oscaro by Campos Racing CUPRA León TCR 74 Spain Pepe Oriola
Germany ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 86 Argentina Esteban Guerrieri
Italy Team Mulsanne Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR 88 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi
Source:[1]

Results

Qualifying 1

Pos. No. Name Team Car Time
1 11 Sweden Thed Björk M Racing-YMR Hyundai i30 N TCR 1:24.698
2 30 Italy Gabriele Tarquini BRC Racing Team Hyundai i30 N TCR 1:25.059
3 69 France Jean-Karl Vernay Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team WRT Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 1:25.256
4 12 United Kingdom Robert Huff Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 1:25.294
5 27 France John Filippi Team Oscaro by Campos Racing CUPRA León TCR 1:25.405
6 86 Argentina Esteban Guerrieri ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 1:25.530
7 52 United Kingdom Gordon Shedden Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team WRT Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 1:25.577
8 25 Morocco Mehdi Bennani Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 1:25.658
9 48 France Yvan Muller M Racing-YMR Hyundai i30 N TCR 1:25.679
10 15 United Kingdom James Thompson ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 1:25.729
11 7 France Aurélien Comte DG Sport Compétition Peugeot 308 GTi TCR 1:25.868
12 15 France Yann Ehrlacher ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 1:25.917
13 22 Belgium Frédéric Vervisch Audi Sport Team Comtoyou Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 1:25.946
14 74 Spain Pepe Oriola Team Oscaro by Campos Racing CUPRA León TCR 1:25.947
15 23 France Nathanaël Berthon Comtoyou Racing Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 1:26.032
16 9 Netherlands Tom Coronel Boutsen Ginion Racing Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 1:26.105
17 21 France Aurélien Panis Comtoyou Racing Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 1:26.256
18 70 Slovakia Mat'o Homola DG Sport Compétition Peugeot 308 GTi TCR 1:26.371
19 20 Belgium Denis Dupont Audi Sport Team Comtoyou Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 1:26.379
20 88 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Team Mulsanne Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR 1:26.384
21 66 Hungary Zsolt Szabó Zengő Motorsport CUPRA León TCR 1:26.473
22 8 Hungary Norbert Nagy Zengő Motorsport CUPRA León TCR 1:26.708
23 63 Belgium Benjamin Lessennes Boutsen Ginion Racing Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 1:27.065
24 10 Italy Gianni Morbidelli Team Mulsanne Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR 1:27.388
25 5 Hungary Norbert Michelisz BRC Racing Team Hyundai i30 N TCR 1:24.834
Source:[2]
  • Norbert Michelisz was given a grid penalty for an engine change after qualifying and moved to the back of the grid after qualifying second fastest.[3]

Race 1

Pos. No. Name Team Car Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 30 Italy Gabriele Tarquini BRC Racing Team Hyundai i30 N TCR 20 48:58.707 2 27
2 11 Sweden Thed Björk M Racing-YMR Hyundai i30 N TCR 20 +0.499 1 20
3 12 United Kingdom Robert Huff Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 20 +2.823 4 17
4 69 France Jean-Karl Vernay Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team WRT Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 20 +4.593 3 14
5 52 United Kingdom Gordon Shedden Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team WRT Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 20 +5.702 7 12
6 86 Argentina Esteban Guerrieri ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 20 +10.136 6 10
7 68 France Yann Ehrlacher ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 20 +10.784 12 8
8 7 France Aurélien Comte DG Sport Compétition Peugeot 308 GTi TCR 20 +11.577 11 6
9 25 Morocco Mehdi Bennani Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 20 +15.025 8 4
10 27 France John Filippi Team Oscaro by Campos Racing CUPRA León TCR 20 +15.026 5 2
11 48 France Yvan Muller M Racing-YMR Hyundai i30 N TCR 20 +16.556 9
12 23 France Nathanaël Berthon Comtoyou Racing Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 20 +17.046 15
13 20 Belgium Denis Dupont Audi Sport Team Comtoyou Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 20 +18.039 19
14 15 United Kingdom James Thompson ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 20 +18.537 10
15 63 Belgium Benjamin Lessennes Boutsen Ginion Racing Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 20 +22.213 23
16 8 Hungary Norbert Nagy Zengő Motorsport CUPRA León TCR 20 +25.096 22
17 66 Hungary Zsolt Szabó Zengő Motorsport CUPRA León TCR 20 +53.666 21
18 74 Spain Pepe Oriola Team Oscaro by Campos Racing CUPRA León TCR 19 +1 Lap 14
19 88 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Team Mulsanne Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR 19 +1 Lap 20
20 10 Italy Gianni Morbidelli Team Mulsanne Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR 17 +3 Laps 24
21 9 Netherlands Tom Coronel Boutsen Ginion Racing Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 15 +5 Laps 16
Ret 70 Slovakia Mat'o Homola DG Sport Compétition Peugeot 308 GTi TCR 11 Damage 18
Ret 5 Hungary Norbert Michelisz BRC Racing Team Hyundai i30 N TCR 3 Wheel 25
Ret 21 France Aurélien Panis Comtoyou Racing Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 1 Crash 17
Ret 22 Belgium Frédéric Vervisch Audi Sport Team Comtoyou Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 0 Crash 13
Source:[4]

Qualifying 2

Pos. No. Name Team Car Q1 Q2 Q3 Points
1 30 Italy Gabriele Tarquini BRC Racing Team Hyundai i30 N TCR 1:24.816 1:24.442 1:24.316 5
2 48 France Yvan Muller M Racing-YMR Hyundai i30 N TCR 1:24.734 1:24.658 1:24.396 4
3 5 Hungary Norbert Michelisz BRC Racing Team Hyundai i30 N TCR 1:24.863 1:24.519 1:24.540 3
4 11 Sweden Thed Björk M Racing-YMR Hyundai i30 N TCR 1:24.796 1:24.392 1:24.653 2
5 68 France Yann Ehrlacher ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 1:24.796 1:24.392 1:24.653 1
6 12 United Kingdom Robert Huff Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 1:24.877 1:24.743 –
7 25 Morocco Mehdi Bennani Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 1:25.082 1:24.789 –
8 15 United Kingdom James Thompson ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 1:25.302 1:24.807 –
9 69 France Jean-Karl Vernay Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team WRT Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 1:25.080 1:24.910 –
10 74 Spain Pepe Oriola Team Oscaro by Campos Racing CUPRA León TCR 1:25.320 1:25.067 –
11 52 United Kingdom Gordon Shedden Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team WRT Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 1:25.339 1:25.151 –
12 22 Belgium Frédéric Vervisch Audi Sport Team Comtoyou Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 1:25.301 1:25.201 –
13 86 Argentina Esteban Guerrieri ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 1:25.361 – –
14 9 Netherlands Tom Coronel Boutsen Ginion Racing Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 1:25.407 – –
15 27 France John Filippi Team Oscaro by Campos Racing CUPRA León TCR 1:25.420 – –
16 70 Slovakia Mat'o Homola DG Sport Compétition Peugeot 308 GTi TCR 1:25.423 – –
17 63 Belgium Benjamin Lessennes Boutsen Ginion Racing Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 1:25.459 – –
18 7 France Aurélien Comte DG Sport Compétition Peugeot 308 GTi TCR 1:25.531 – –
19 66 Hungary Zsolt Szabó Zengő Motorsport CUPRA León TCR 1:25.762 – –
20 23 France Nathanaël Berthon Comtoyou Racing Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 1:25.828 – –
21 20 Belgium Denis Dupont Audi Sport Team Comtoyou Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 1:25.906 – –
22 8 Hungary Norbert Nagy Zengő Motorsport CUPRA León TCR 1:26.002 – –
23 88 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Team Mulsanne Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR 1:26.064 – –
24 21 France Aurélien Panis Comtoyou Racing Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 1:26.409 – –
25 10 Italy Gianni Morbidelli Team Mulsanne Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR 1:26.708 – –
Source:[5]

Race 2

Pos. No. Name Team Car Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 69 France Jean-Karl Vernay Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team WRT Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 20 31:41.418 2 25
2 25 Morocco Mehdi Bennani Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 20 +0.890 4 18
3 74 Spain Pepe Oriola Team Oscaro by Campos Racing CUPRA León TCR 20 +3.270 1 15
4 68 France Yann Ehrlacher ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 20 +3.631 6 12
5 11 Sweden Thed Björk M Racing-YMR Hyundai i30 N TCR 20 +6.570 7 10
6 15 United Kingdom James Thompson ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 20 +7.916 3 8
7 5 Hungary Norbert Michelisz BRC Racing Team Hyundai i30 N TCR 20 +11.929 8 6
8 86 Argentina Esteban Guerrieri ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 20 +13.630 13 4
9 48 France Yvan Muller M Racing-YMR Hyundai i30 N TCR 20 +14.555 9 2
10 9 Netherlands Tom Coronel Boutsen Ginion Racing Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 20 +14.959 14 1'
11 52 United Kingdom Gordon Shedden Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team WRT Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 20 +15.386 11
12 70 Slovakia Mat'o Homola DG Sport Compétition Peugeot 308 GTi TCR 20 +19.480 18
13 88 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Team Mulsanne Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR 20 +20.091 23
14 21 France Aurélien Panis Comtoyou Racing Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 20 +21.327 24
15 23 France Nathanaël Berthon Comtoyou Racing Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 20 +22.411 20
16 8 Hungary Norbert Nagy Zengő Motorsport CUPRA León TCR 20 +24.790 22
17 27 France John Filippi Team Oscaro by Campos Racing CUPRA León TCR 20 +48.169 15
18 12 United Kingdom Robert Huff Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 17 +3 Laps 5
19 30 Italy Gabriele Tarquini BRC Racing Team Hyundai i30 N TCR 16 +4 Laps 10
Ret 7 France Aurélien Comte DG Sport Compétition Peugeot 308 GTi TCR 11 Retired 18
Ret 63 Belgium Benjamin Lessennes Boutsen Ginion Racing Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 10 Crash 17
Ret 22 Belgium Frédéric Vervisch Audi Sport Team Comtoyou Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 9 Retired 12
Ret 10 Italy Gianni Morbidelli Team Mulsanne Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR 9 Contact 25
Ret 66 Hungary Zsolt Szabó Zengő Motorsport CUPRA León TCR 7 Crash 19
DNS 20 Belgium Denis Dupont Audi Sport Team Comtoyou Audi RS 3 LMS TCR – Qualifying crash –
Source:[6]

Race 3

Pos. No. Name Team Car Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 30 Italy Gabriele Tarquini BRC Racing Team Hyundai i30 N TCR 23 35:32.310 1 30
2 48 France Yvan Muller M Racing-YMR Hyundai i30 N TCR 23 +2.524 2 23
3 11 Sweden Thed Björk M Racing-YMR Hyundai i30 N TCR 23 +2.922 4 19
4 68 France Yann Ehrlacher ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 23 +4.645 6 16
5 5 Hungary Norbert Michelisz BRC Racing Team Hyundai i30 N TCR 23 +5.937 3 13
6 25 Morocco Mehdi Bennani Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 23 +6.631 7 10
7 12 United Kingdom Robert Huff Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 23 +8.121 6 8
8 15 United Kingdom James Thompson ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 23 +9.932 8 4
9 69 France Jean-Karl Vernay Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team WRT Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 23 +10.743 9 2
10 74 Spain Pepe Oriola Team Oscaro by Campos Racing CUPRA León TCR 23 +13.740 10 1
11 27 France John Filippi Team Oscaro by Campos Racing CUPRA León TCR 23 +14.599 15
12 9 Netherlands Tom Coronel Boutsen Ginion Racing Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 23 +14.838 14
13 70 Slovakia Mat'o Homola DG Sport Compétition Peugeot 308 GTi TCR 23 +16.011 16
14 86 Argentina Esteban Guerrieri ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 23 +16.475 13
15 8 Hungary Norbert Nagy Zengő Motorsport CUPRA León TCR 23 +18.464 22
16 21 France Aurélien Panis Comtoyou Racing Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 23 +19.526 24
17 63 Belgium Benjamin Lessennes Boutsen Ginion Racing Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 23 +20.205 17
18 52 United Kingdom Gordon Shedden Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team WRT Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 19 +4 Laps 11
19 88 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Team Mulsanne Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR 17 +6 Laps 23
Ret 23 France Nathanaël Berthon Comtoyou Racing Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 15 Damage 20
Ret 10 Italy Gianni Morbidelli Team Mulsanne Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR 13 Retired 25
Ret 66 Hungary Zsolt Szabó Zengő Motorsport CUPRA León TCR 8 Retired 19
Ret 22 Belgium Frédéric Vervisch Audi Sport Team Comtoyou Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 6 Retired 12
DNS 7 France Aurélien Comte DG Sport Compétition Peugeot 308 GTi TCR – Did not start –
DNS 20 Belgium Denis Dupont Audi Sport Team Comtoyou Audi RS 3 LMS TCR – Qualifying crash –
Source:[7]

Standings after the round

Drivers' Championship standings
Pos Driver Points
1 Italy Gabriele Tarquini 62
2 Sweden Thed Björk 51
3 France Jean-Karl Vernay 41
4 France Yann Ehrlacher 37
5 Morocco Mehdi Bennani 32
Teams' Championship standings
Pos Driver Points
1 Italy BRC Racing Team 86
2 France M Racing-YMR 82
3 Luxembourg Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team WRT 56
4 France Sébastien Loeb Racing 56
5 Germany ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport 53

References

  1. ^ "2018 FIA WORLD TOURING CAR CUP ENTRY LIST – V3" (PDF). fiawtcr.com. FIA WTCR.
  2. ^ "Thed Björk leads a Hyundai 1-2-3 in qualifying for the first WTCR race in Morocco". TouringCarTimes. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  3. ^ "Norbert Michelisz sent to the back of the grid for Morocco Race 1". TouringCarTimes. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Gabriele Tarquini wins incident-packed first race in Morocco". TouringCarTimes. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Gabriele Tarquini beats Yvan Muller to Sunday pole in Morocco". TouringCarTimes. 8 April 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Jean-Karl Vernay wins action-heavy second race in Morocco". TouringCarTimes. 8 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Gabriele Tarquini doubles-up and retakes the points lead in Morocco Race 3". TouringCarTimes. 8 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2020.